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Science 2 November 1984:
Vol. 226. no. 4674, pp. 535 - 537
DOI: 10.1126/science.226.4674.535
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Articles

Droplet Impacts Upon Liquid Surfaces

BRUCE CHING 1, MICHAEL W. GOLAY 1, and THOMAS J. JOHNSON 1

1 Department of Nuclear Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge 02139

The absorption and rebounding of single droplets and streams of droplets (of diameter less than 1200 micrometers) impacting upon the surface of a deep liquid have been examined experimentally. Conservation of mechanical energy and momentum have been used to explain rebounding droplet interactions, and impaction criteria have been established regarding the absorption of droplet streams. Surface tension is the dominant mechanism governing the observed behavior. Single droplets were never observed to rebound.

Submitted on January 23, 1984
Accepted on August 24, 1984

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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)