Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
606497 Journal of Colloid and Interface Science 2016 5 Pages PDF
Abstract

•Floating of bodies heavier than the supporting liquid is discussed.•Floating of objects possessing lateral dimensions smaller than the capillary length is treated.•Floating these bodies is prescribed by the surface tension related effects.•Elongated bodies are better supported by capillarity due to the increase in the perimeter of the triple line.

Floating of bodies heavier than the supporting liquid is discussed. Floating of cylindrical, ellipsoidal bodies and rectangular plates possessing lateral dimensions smaller than the capillary length is treated. It is demonstrated that more elongated bodies of a fixed volume are better supported by capillary forces, due to the increase in the perimeter of the triple line. Thus, floating of metallic needles obtains reasonable explanation.

Graphical abstractSteel needle floating on the water surface.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload high-quality image (45 K)Download as PowerPoint slide

Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering Chemical Engineering Colloid and Surface Chemistry
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