Dear all fellow physicists,
I am struggling with the following fluid mechanics problem: considering a liquid film in an "equilibrium" position between two plane walls, I am trying to define the forces acting on the liquid.
Most importantly, gravity is pulling down on the liquid with Fg = m* g. Since the shape of the film is not uniform, this force's magnitude (slightly) varies across the film.
Furthermore, we have an adhesive force component which acts upward, sort of holding the liquid film at the walls and we have surface tension at the liquid-air interface.
My problem is with regard to the forces acting against gravity. How can I calculate them? Knowing surface tension and the wetting angle, can I define them in some way or another, based on the curvatures of the top and bottom surface of the liquid film? Like, what would the individual force vectors' magnitudes be, based on liquid properties and curvatures of the surfaces?
Looking forward to your replies,
Marc
I am struggling with the following fluid mechanics problem: considering a liquid film in an "equilibrium" position between two plane walls, I am trying to define the forces acting on the liquid.
Most importantly, gravity is pulling down on the liquid with Fg = m* g. Since the shape of the film is not uniform, this force's magnitude (slightly) varies across the film.
Furthermore, we have an adhesive force component which acts upward, sort of holding the liquid film at the walls and we have surface tension at the liquid-air interface.
My problem is with regard to the forces acting against gravity. How can I calculate them? Knowing surface tension and the wetting angle, can I define them in some way or another, based on the curvatures of the top and bottom surface of the liquid film? Like, what would the individual force vectors' magnitudes be, based on liquid properties and curvatures of the surfaces?
Looking forward to your replies,
Marc