5 ms·
Except that you could have part of the surface covered in 1 molecule, and another portion covered in 2 molecules. Since you never directly measure the thicknes
by MereInterest 2y ago
Except that you could have part of the surface covered in 1 molecule, and another portion covered in 2 molecules. Since you never directly measure the thickness, this would produce the same apparent thickness as a uniform 1.5 molecule thick layer.
- jjk166 2y agoThat's not how fluids work. The molecules spread out to form an even surface everywhere, so you can't have local high spots. You'd have to put in enough oil to cover the entire surface, and then put in more.
- kccqzy 2y agoYeah and the point is that there is more embedded knowledge about surface tension here. For example if I put a small drop of water onto my desk, it does not spread out into a thin film of one water molecule thick. It remains a droplet due to surface tension.
- jjk166 2y agoAnd if you put an oil drop into that little bead of water it will spread out because it destroys the surface tension. That's why Rayleigh was playing around with it to begin with, and the reason why a thin film of oil calms the surface of water.