What is “cavitation,” a phenomenon often observed in rapidly moving fluids?

The formation of vapor bubbles in a liquid

Cavitation is a fascinating phenomenon where small vapor bubbles form in a rapidly moving liquid when the local pressure drops below the liquid's vapor pressure. These bubbles can collapse violently, generating significant forces that can cause erosion on nearby solid surfaces, such as turbine blades or ship propellers. In addition to its challenges for engineering, cavitation has interesting applications, including in ultrasonic cleaning and certain medical processes. This phenomenon illustrates the complexity and surprises that the study of fluids can reveal, even in seemingly simple situations.