Weber numbers at various stages of water projectile transformation during free fall in air

The process of breakage of water projectiles (spherical “balls” with initial volumes ranging within 0.05–40.5 L) during free fall in air from a height of 3 m has been studied by means of high-speed (up to 10$^5$ fps) video recording. Four stages of projectile transformation are distinguished that precede the formation of a cloud of droplets. It is established that the transitions from one stage to another proceed within shorter fall times for greater initial volumes of water. Weber numbers at these stages are determined.