Re: [Phys-l] floating cork

[William Robertson <wrobert9@ix.netcom.com>]

Yes, "downhill" in the sense that the system is settling in at a lower  
potential energy, but I would like to know what's going on in terms of  
forces acting on the cork. I should also mention that if you "float" a  
paper clip instead of the cork (paper clip supported by surface  
tension rather than buoyant force), the paper clip does the opposite  
thing the cork does. There is no adhesion in the case of the paper  
clip, while there is in the case of the cork, which is what leads me  
to believe differences in surface tension are causing the movement of  
the cork.

Bill



On Apr 18, 2011, at 3:27 PM, Aburr@aol.com wrote:

> In both cases the cork is just moving downhill
>
> Alex. F. Burr
>
>
> In a message dated 4/18/2011 1:23:02 P.M. Mountain Daylight Time,
> wrobert9@ix.netcom.com writes:
>
> Fill a glass half full of water and it will have a concave up
> meniscus. ......
>
> . Now fill the same
> glass to overflowing, so the surface  tension creates a concave down
> meniscus.
>
>
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