23 May 2011

Metal floating on water

Probably everyone who has been to a beach has seen grains of sand floating on water, demonstrating how surface tension can override density.  The photographer here has illustrated the phenomenon by placing a grille in front of the light source to show the curvature of the water surface.  Nicely done.

Image credit Robert Anderson, via BBC News and Scipsy.

2 comments:

  1. AnonymousMay 23, 2011 at 7:40 PM

    That's a very nice photo. Reminds me of wind tunnel images.

    For more fun 'floating metal' science, it's worth looking up what happens when you drop sodium in water. It's not really 'floating' like this is, but it's interesting.

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  2. MinnesotastanMay 23, 2011 at 8:00 PM

    I remember the sodium from high school. :.)

    Have you seen this example? -

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HY7mTCMvpEM

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