Disintegration of a falling drop of liquid

[ca2n]

What are the variables that determine the maximum diameter of a drop of liquid that will not disintegrate while falling through a gas (e.g. raindrop falling in air)?

 

[Andy Resnick]

If you mean "fragment" by disintegrate (as opposed to evaporate), then drop breakup is driven by interfacial energy, at a timescale driven by the viscosity.