Why do fluid drops are sperical?

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Fluid drops in air maintain a nearly spherical shape due to surface tension, which balances the aerodynamic forces acting on them. Despite the vertical pressure exerted by air, surface tension predominates, preventing drops from becoming ellipsoidal. In deep ocean conditions, a fluid with low surface tension might form an ellipsoidal bubble, but the surrounding water's surface tension would still influence its shape. The discussion raises curiosity about the shapes of raindrops formed by different materials, such as organic solvents or superfluid helium. Understanding these dynamics can reveal more about fluid behavior in varying environments.
fluidistic
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Hi,
I'm almost sure that this question frequently appears and have been asked thousands of times and if so, then excuse me and I'll be OK if you give me a link to such a thread.
I don't understand why fluid drops in air are not ellipsoidal since the air makes pressure vertically on everything submerged in it. The same apply for air's bubbles in water. Water makes pressure vertically and so the bubble should get an ellipsoidal form, but it doesn't.
Thank you!
 
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Surface tension balances the aerodynamic forces - mostly surface tension wins so the drops are almost spherical.
 
mgb_phys said:
Surface tension balances the aerodynamic forces - mostly surface tension wins so the drops are almost spherical.

Thanks SO much!
If I find a fluid that has a little surface tension and I put it say in deep ocean (more than 10km under water surface) then I'd likely get an ellipsoidal bubble. :smile: if I understand well.
 
Well there is still the surface tension of the water because there is a surface around the bubble.
It would be interesting to know what shape 'raindrops' of other materials formed in air - say organic solvents or superfluid helium!
 
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