Gravity's Effects on Aqueous Foams - Discussion & Experiments

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the effects of gravity on the structure and behavior of aqueous foams, particularly in the context of experiments conducted in microgravity environments. Participants explore theoretical implications, experimental observations, and open questions regarding foam stability and formation under varying gravitational conditions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Experimental/applied

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that gravity plays a minor role in foam formation, asserting that surface tension is a more significant force due to the small mass of foam surfaces.
  • Another participant agrees that while gravity has some effect, it is relatively small compared to other forces, particularly in the context of foam evolution.
  • A participant mentions that experiments in microgravity aim to obstruct gravity-driven drainage and achieve stable foam structures that may not be possible on Earth.
  • There is a reference to ongoing experiments that monitor foam heights rather than cell wall thickness, with expectations that higher gravity levels complicate foam creation.
  • New publications related to foaming experiments are shared, indicating ongoing research and interest in the topic.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that gravity has a limited effect on foam formation, but the extent and nature of this effect remain open to discussion. Multiple viewpoints exist regarding the significance of gravity compared to other forces, and the discussion does not reach a consensus on the specifics of these effects.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about the precise measurements and effects of gravity on foam structures, noting limitations in their experimental observations and the need for further evaluation of data.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to researchers and students in physics, materials science, and engineering, particularly those focused on fluid dynamics and the behavior of foams in varying gravitational environments.

Telmerk
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Dear all,

What do you think, how the gravity effects on the structure of aqueous foams?
I' ve just made a series of http://www.admatis.com" , Bremen, Germany.
There are a lot of experiments available in micro-g, using parabolic flight missions.

I would be happy to discuss with you the recent results and the open questions!
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
I know nothing about such stuff, and unfortunately can't understand the first link, but it looks fascinating. I'll certainly monitor this thread.
 
I would guess that gravity plays only a small role in foam formation, because surface tension is far greater of a force in this situtation and the mass of the foam surfaces is small.

I was surmise that gravity only has a settling effect.
 
Danger said:
I know nothing about such stuff, and unfortunately can't understand the first link, but it looks fascinating. I'll certainly monitor this thread.
In case you didn't find the English versions, it's here. Not the whole site is also in English.
 
Sorry

Dear PhysicsForumers,

I am sorry that I answer so late. I think quinn is right, we can expect that gravity level has a small effect (but it do have some!) on foam evolution because the effect of gravity is proportional to the mass, and foams have small mass.
Here is a little article about foams, (sorry for my bad English.:frown: ) see the attachment. It will appear on the website (with pictures) I linked in the http://www.admatis.com" . For starting, one of the best article about the physics of foams is the so called Making, Measuring and Modelling Foams, by Denis Weairie and Stefan Hutzler, Europhysics News, May/June 1999.

A lot of experiments has been carried out in micro-g, to obstruct the gravity-driven drainage, and to achieve stable foam structures even from materials that are unstable on Earth. we tried out, what happens in macro-g. We could not measure the cell wall thickness inside the foam, we only monitored the foam heights. We expected that with increasing gravity levels it is more difficult to create foams. :bugeye:
It is true. See the the plot below, made from raw data. I am looking forward to evaluate all of our measurements and to clarify the effect of macro-g.
Hopefully, there will be detailed results within a few months.. :rolleyes:

Kind regards,
T, the Magician
 

Attachments

  • 90up-pointslines-errors.png
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Some new material

Hi, dear Forumers and Foamers,

There is a new publication about the above mentioned foaming experiments at the http://www.zarm.uni-bremen.de" home page. Check it out, if you have some free time! Follow: Facilities/Centrifuge/Application/Scientific Applications

Regards,

T.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

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