How to make water splash less?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around methods to reduce the height of water splashes when a body is dropped into it, particularly in the context of a toilet tank system. Participants explore various household products and techniques to mitigate splash effects, addressing both theoretical and practical aspects of the problem.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant inquires about the term for the height of a splash caused by an object falling into water and describes a specific issue with a toilet tank system.
  • Another participant suggests using baffles to reduce splashing.
  • Some participants propose draping toilet paper over the water as a temporary solution to reduce splash height.
  • Increasing the viscosity of the water is suggested, with ideas including using Jello or gelatin, though concerns about effectiveness are raised.
  • Olive oil is mentioned as a potential additive that would float on the surface and reduce splashing.
  • Talcum powder is suggested for increasing surface tension, with a note on the timing of application for effectiveness.
  • One participant references a related thread discussing water behavior in a vacuum, hinting at broader implications of the splash phenomenon.
  • Alternatives such as lowering the falling bodies slowly by a rope are proposed, though some participants express confusion about the relevance of this suggestion.
  • There is mention of a need for additives to alter the input to the system, with a technical specification suggested but not detailed.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a variety of suggestions and ideas, but no consensus is reached on a single effective solution. Multiple competing views and methods remain under discussion.

Contextual Notes

Some suggestions depend on the specific properties of the materials used, and the effectiveness of proposed solutions may vary based on the conditions of the system. There are unresolved questions regarding the practicality and cleanliness of certain methods.

dotancohen
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Is there a term for the height that a liquid splashes above it's surface when a body falls into it?

There is a certain system in our house that is designed to drop viscoplastics at quasistatic speeds into a water vessel from a height of about 20 cm. Under normal operating conditions the water in the vessel does not splash onto the receptacle dropping the viscoplastics. However, this week the receptacle is ejecting a water-based substance at high speed, which causes the water in the vessel to splash up higher than normal. This is rather uncomfortable. Are there any common household products which one could add to water to reduce the height of the splash? I tried salt but there is no effective way of mixing it and it settles too quickly.

Thanks.
 
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put baffles in the tank.
 
Thanks, Cragar. The tank is actually a toilet, and that would be hard to clean! I did find that draping two layers of toilet paper over the water does help, though.
 
dotancohen said:
Thanks, Cragar. The tank is actually a toilet, and that would be hard to clean! I did find that draping two layers of toilet paper over the water does help, though.
Good solution, you put disposable baffles in the tank :biggrin:

The original post here would make a great entry in a "Guess what is being described here" contest. :smile:

But seriously, hope you're better soon dotancohen.
 
Last edited:
dotancohen said:
There is a certain system in our house that is designed to drop viscoplastics at quasistatic speeds into a water vessel from a height of about 20 cm. Under normal operating conditions the water in the vessel does not splash onto the receptacle dropping the viscoplastics. However, this week the receptacle is ejecting a water-based substance at high speed, which causes the water in the vessel to splash up higher than normal. This is rather uncomfortable. Are there any common household products which one could add to water to reduce the height of the splash? I tried salt but there is no effective way of mixing it and it settles too quickly.
Excellent description! I hope you feel well soon too.
 
Last edited:
Redbelly98 said:
Good solution, you put disposable baffles in the tank :biggrin:

The original post here would make a great entry in a "Guess what is being described here" contest. :smile:

That's pretty much the reverse path of how I got to posting: I tried to reduce the problem to something academic-sounding in the hopes that bells would start ringing. But I'm not a chemical engineer.

But it sounds like time for a contest! I'd love to see what others here come up with.

But seriously, hope you're better soon dotancohen.

Finally starting too, thanks.
 
LOL!

How about increasing the viscosity of receptive fluid.

Maybe Jello . . . .(BTW, the splash phenomenon described in the OP is known as 'Neptune's Kiss')
 
tasp77 said:
LOL!

How about increasing the viscosity of receptive fluid.

Maybe Jello . . . .

That's a great idea, seeing how unsuccessful I've been in increasing the viscosity of the effluvium. I'll see if I have some gelatin, though I don't know how well it will work without cooling.
BTW, the splash phenomenon described in the OP is known as 'Neptune's Kiss'

I suppose that is a better moniker than "Uranus' endearment".
 
A friend of mine has suggested trying some olive oil, which would float on the surface.
 
  • #10
Redbelly98 said:
A friend of mine has suggested trying some olive oil, which would float on the surface.

That's a good idea, thanks.

For the interested, talcum powder works as well by increasing the surface tension. Protip: powder it in when you leave so that it will be ready for when you return. You won't have the patience to powder properly when you need it.
 
  • #11
  • #12
An alternative solution would be to lower the falling bodies slowly by a rope.:confused:
 
  • #13
As you described the problem is not the operation of the receptacle, it's the input that needs to be altered. May I suggest some sort of additive.

Something similar to this.
Additive technical Specification
 
  • #14
Dadface said:
An alternative solution would be to lower the falling bodies slowly by a rope.:confused:

I think you missed the point of his post. Reread the original post with more... unsanitary thoughts
 
  • #15
xxChrisxx said:
As you described the problem is not the operation of the receptacle, it's the input that needs to be altered. May I suggest some sort of additive.

Something similar to this.
Additive technical Specification

Thanks, Chris. Due to problems with the output buffering, the input stream was running on minimum bandwidth.

Things are returning to normal now, though. I think posting about it helped. Oh no, I've become this:
http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2008/4/23/
 

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