What happens when you wring out a dripping wet washcloth in zero gravity

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Next we need a porno film........

 

 

REALLY TOM????

 

Couldn't you have just posted the link without bringing sex into it?   Especially since this is a PUBLIC forum on a WASHER / appliance site?  There's a time and place for that and this is NOT it.

 

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It IS a VERY cool video though!   Thanks for posting!

 

Kevin

 

 
 
Really that isn't what you thought would happen? Was pretty much as I envisioned it due to surface tension. Unless it was moved vigorously there isn't enough force to cause the water to break surface tension to become airborne.

The way it clung to his hands after seemed odd though, much like it was more viscous.

Zero gravity is an interesting world. I have a Fischer Space Pen that is supposed to work in zero G, alas I haven't tested it yet...
 
Well,

I for one had not the least idea that the water would behave in that manner.

Surface tension rings a bell wayyyyy at the back of my memory. Clearly, I've been out of school too long.
 
And that's why we put a stick or spoon in a mug of water heating in a microwave, to break the surface tension so it doesn't blow out all over you when you drop a tea bag into it. A lot people have been burned like that. Even a single toothpick will do.

Very cool video. Thanks for posting.
 
Fascinating....

Now we need to see what happens if the water has a few drops of detergent (surfactant) in it, to reduce/break the surface tension....

Can any of our Canadian members put in a request to see this??? ;)

All best

Dave T
 
Superheated Water

Superheating of water in the microwave is indeed caused by surface tension also. The surface tension of the water prevents the formation of vapor bubbles (boiling) which allows the temperature can rise above the stable state. It just takes something to interrupt the water and the formation of vapor can cause a violent reaction.

Mythbusters took this on and they did get a good reaction, there is video on Youtube.

It is quite difficult to get a violent reaction though (in the name of science I have tried). The container holding the water much be very smooth inside, any surface imperfections will aid boiling, a new Pyrex beaker works well. The water needs to be quite free of impurities, like distilled water, and it needs to be devoid of aeration. All of these need to come together to keep the water from boiling to allow it to store the excess energy. Typical tap water in a mug that has surface scratches from silverware will largely nullify the potential danger.

It makes sense to be careful though. Leave the cup undisturbed for a minute in the oven and drop a spoon into it while standing clear. The Mythbusters team used a robotic hand mostly for show but a strong reaction could create a painful scalding incident.
 
I wonder how this affects the operation of pumps in zero gravity situations. I wonder what the demo would have looked like if there was a surfactant in the wash cloth. If they had a dishwasher in a zero gravity place, would the sump be at the top to collect water and then pump it down to a wash arm in the bottom of the tank? But with no gravity, water would collect up in cups or tumblers, not that they are used, and not fall out. Assuming that the detergent would make the water in the wash cycle behave more normally, what would happen to the rinse water? Would there be enough remaining surfactant to keep it from clinging to the dishware or would it coat them like it did his hands? The disposable pouches make a lot of sense.
 
Stefan,

I think I got happiness is a clean duck from that lol

Here is another interesting Youtube 2-part video from the 60's that demonstrates a lot of interesting surface tension experiments. I vaguely recall seeing this movie in high school with a 16mm Bell&Howell clattering away behind me!

Not sure it answers any of your questions Tom but its interesting none the less.

 
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