What is a Vortex?
Vortices are everywhere; from our cup coffee to electric fields.  We see them everywhere in our every day life, aware of some and oblivious to others.   So what is a Vortex?  If you look in any dictionary you might find a definition similar to this one found in the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary:

 



http://www.soulinvitation.com/worms/ 		According to Merriam-Webster Online:
Definition of vortex:
“1 a : a mass of fluid (as a liquid) with a whirling or circular motion that tends to form a cavity or vacuum in the center of the circle and to draw toward this cavity or vacuum bodies subject to its action; especially : WHIRLPOOL, EDDY b : a region within a body of fluid in which the fluid elements have an angular velocity
2 : something that resembles a whirlpool <the hellish vortex of battle -- Time>”
http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=vortex



In this definition, and many others, the word “whirlpool” is commonly used to describe gaseous and liquid vortices but as you will see they exist all around you.

Ring vortex
A ring shaped vortex is whirling mass that has a rotation that goes in a continuous ring shape and it keeps that continuous ring shape as it spins in the air.
Photo courtesy of: http://www.educeth.ch/stromboli/etna/etna00/etna0005photo-en.html


Horizontal vortex
Defined as the a whirling mass that has an increased velocity as you approach the center or hole of the vortex. It is also important that the area surrounding the vortex is moving with the same velocity as the vortex itself.


The physics of a gaseous vortex and liquid vortex.
The pressure of the vortex increases the further it is from the hole of the
vortex. And the actual hole “hole” of the vortex has a lower pressure, and in
an attempt to equalize the pressure differences there is a suction that is
created. (Ex of toilet & tornado)

The physics of a electromagnetic vortex
Simply stated, the physics of an electromagnetic vortex essentially works just
like gaseous or liquid vortices but, instead of pressure and a fluid we are dealing with a magnetic field and electrical current.



                              
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