Dynamical model of bubble path instability

Millimeter-sized air bubbles rising through still water are known to exhibit zigzag and spiral oscillatory trajectories. We present a system of four ordinary differential equations which effectively model these dynamics. The model is based on Kirchhoff's equations and several physical arguments derived from our experimental observations. In the framework of this model, the zigzag and the spiral motions result from the same underlying bifurcation to wake instability.