When the pressure falls below the vapour pressure of the liquid at a
given temperature, boiling occurs and small bubbles of vapour are formed.
These bubbles will grow in the low-pressure area and implode when they
are transported to an area of pressure above vapour pressure. The term
given to this local vaporisation of the fluid is Cavitation.
Centrifugal Pumps - Cavitation
The collapsing of the bubbles is the area of Cavitation we are concerned with, as extremely high pressures are produced, which causes noise and erosion of the metal surface.
