Re: A WATER DROP......

Dr. V I Plankenstein <PlankensteinC@xxxxxxxx> wrote:

why is the shape of a water drop in the shape of a "hemisphere
surmounted by a cone" kind?
cmon, think it over!!

The shape of a drop of anything depends on how far it has fallen.

Given enough height drops become almost perfect spheres.

This fact has been utilized to make lead shot (as in shotgun shot)
for hundreds of years by dribbling molten lead from the top of a
high tower into a water bath.

The initial elongation of a drop is due to the surface tension
holding the fluid to the drop source, and it is surface tension
that causes the drop to become a sphere.


What shape would it take in a vacuum ? Would there be any "tidal" elongation
? Catenary of revolution ? Catenoid ?

Well, assuming the fluid didn't boil in a vacuum, and since it is surface
tension that determines the shape, why would you think it would be
any different in a vacuum?

I'll leave it to you to do the calculations of the relative magnitude
of the forces involved.

--
Jim Pennino

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Relevant Pages

  • Re: A WATER DROP......
    ... This fact has been utilized to make lead shot ... The initial elongation of a drop is due to the surface tension ...
    (sci.physics)
  • Re: A WATER DROP......
    ... Given enough height drops become almost perfect spheres. ... This fact has been utilized to make lead shot ... The initial elongation of a drop is due to the surface tension ...
    (sci.physics)
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