Comparison of splashing in high- and low-viscosity liquids

We explore the evolution of a splash when a liquid drop impacts a smooth dry surface. There are two splashing regimes that occur when the liquid viscosity is varied as is evidenced by its dependence on ambient gas pressure. A high-viscosity drop splashes by emitting a thin sheet of liquid from a spreading liquid lamella long after the drop has first contacted the solid. Likewise, we find that there is also a delay in the ejection of a thin sheet when a low-viscosity drop splashes. We show how the ejection time of the thin sheet depends on liquid viscosity and ambient gas pressure.