Photos: Gravity experiments in space
Source: NASA
In the absence of gravity surface tension dominates the physics of fluids
Here, in an image taken on the International Space Station, surface tension causes water to extend from a metal loop as if it were stirred by an invisible spoon.
This stirring effect was created by using a flashlight to unevenly heat the water. The resulting temperature difference induced an imbalance in the surface tension, causing the fluid to rotate.
Such surface-tension-triggered movement, called Marangoni convection, is less obvious on Earth, but can be seen in environments such as cooling puddles of molten steel.
- Posted:
- 16/09/2009
The International Space Station may still be under construction, but microgravity research has been under way for decades. Here is a round-up of some of the most notable experiments.
