Questions tagged [liquid-state]
The liquid state of matter is characterized by short-ranged correlations, as opposed to the long-ranged correlations of crystals and the absence of correlations in an ideal gas. Use this tag for questions specifically concerning the thermodynamics and statistical-mechanics of liquids. For the dynamical and mechanical properties of liquids, use the "fluid-dynamics" and "fluid-statics" tags.
191 questions
0 votes
1 answer
156 views
Excess pressure is the excess of pressure at what point and compared to which other point at what instant?
The excess pressure (P) inside the small patch of liquid surface (surface tension T) formed from two adjacent sides radii r1 and r2 is given by P = T (1 / r1 +1 / r2). Here the word 'excess' seems to ...
- 41
0 votes
2 answers
149 views
How do partially soluble impurities reduce surface tension?
I have read that partially soluble impurities like phenol, alcohol, detergents, etc. reduce surface tension of a liquid. I cannot seem to find any logical explanation for the same. I know that ...
- 1
5 votes
4 answers
476 views
Thinnest layer of water to produce buoyant force
Consider an object placed in a container with water. We know that if done carefully, a thin layer of water can provide buoyant forces to float heavy objects. However, the thickness of the water layer (...
- 351
1 vote
0 answers
53 views
Normal resistance by liquids to stress
Why do liquids support normal forces but not tangential forces? I have searched for the answer but I have not found it, only descriptions, but there is no reference to any molecular model or to the ...
1 vote
5 answers
773 views
Why is liquid pressure the same in all directions?
I have a question which I have been unable to find a satisfying answer to: how come in liquids, given a depth, the pressure exerted by that liquid is the same in all directions? I have read this ...
- 1,253
3 votes
0 answers
89 views
Microscopic Theories of Liquids?
Are there any microscopic theories (some analog of the Boltzman equation) for liquids? Both gases and liquids obey the same laws (the Navier-Stokes equations) in the continuum regime, but as far as I ...
3 votes
1 answer
133 views
Capillary action question
I have noticed something odd. I use a straw to drink. When I drink Sprite, the straw often drips Sprite on my desk. No other beverages drip. It doesn't seem to be related to carbonation, since ...
- 1,329
0 votes
1 answer
92 views
Solid to liquid transition second order, but has latent heat?
I always thought that first-order transitions cannot have symmetry breaking. But the water-to-ice transition seems to break this idea. We do know that it has a latent heat of freezing, but we also ...
- 106
2 votes
3 answers
442 views
Liquids - does increased pressure increase "internal energy"?
I do not have much experience with working with liquids so I am basing a lot of my intuition on what I know about gases (which I have a feeling is not good, but gases are the closest thing to liquids ...
- 45
0 votes
1 answer
96 views
What, qualitatively, is $\beta$ in $\beta = L \dfrac{u}{u'-u} = Tu \dfrac{\mathrm{d}P}{\mathrm{d}T}$ in evaporation experiments?
What, qualitatively, is $\beta$ in this paper? Why is it a correction term in both specific heat and latent heat measurements? $$\beta = L \frac{u}{u'-u} = Tu \frac{\mathrm{d}P}{\mathrm{d}T}.$$ ...
- 1,529
0 votes
2 answers
210 views
Why is the heat curve of water a straight line?
This excellent video plots the heat curve of water experimentally by measuring the temperature every second (see below). The apparatus was a Corning PC-400D Hot Plate with a Vernier Go!Temp ...
- 1,529
0 votes
2 answers
143 views
Why don't we find capillary condensation all around us?
Capillary condensation is a phenomenon where condensation happens even in an unsaturated vapour provided that the radius of curvature of the condensate surface is sufficiently small, for example in ...
- 1,529
6 votes
2 answers
384 views
Why don't liquid aerosols rapidly vanish by evaporation?
Liquid aerosols are known to be relatively stable. However, given their immense surface area and tiny volume, we would expect them to rapidly vanish by evaporation. Why are liquid aerosols ...
- 1,529
2 votes
0 answers
128 views
Would a cup of a superhydrophobic material ever fill with water?
This is a thought experiment inspired by the Lotus Effect: some surfaces with patterned hydrophobic pillars have a contact angle for droplets which is pretty close to 180 degrees. Imagine a tiny cup ...
- 559
0 votes
0 answers
76 views
Where can I find the derivation of the law of mass action for liquids?
I already asked this in chemistry and all they gave me was a link to the historical derivation. https://chemistry.stackexchange.com/q/68195/ But this derivation relies on the Maxwell-Botlzmann ...