- #1
gordonb
- 4
- 0
Hi
We have a problem at work where we need to store a metal container under water. The container is to have small holes in the lid to ensure that it floods when submerged but we must minimise the size of these holes. Intuitively, if you have more than one hole in the lid then water will enter one while the air escapes through another but when we've tried it, this is not the case. I'm guessing that surface tension is preventing the bubbles from escaping. So I'm wondering if there is a way to calculate the minimum hole size for a given depth of water to ensure that bubbles will escape from the container.
Hope someone can help.
Thanks
Gordon
We have a problem at work where we need to store a metal container under water. The container is to have small holes in the lid to ensure that it floods when submerged but we must minimise the size of these holes. Intuitively, if you have more than one hole in the lid then water will enter one while the air escapes through another but when we've tried it, this is not the case. I'm guessing that surface tension is preventing the bubbles from escaping. So I'm wondering if there is a way to calculate the minimum hole size for a given depth of water to ensure that bubbles will escape from the container.
Hope someone can help.
Thanks
Gordon