Naked Science Forum
General Discussion & Feedback => Radio Show & Podcast Feedback => Topic started by: thedoc on 05/11/2009 10:57:04
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This week, we're exploring the science of Smart Materials - we discover a Super-Non-Stick coating that even honey wont stick to and flexible plastic paper with E-Ink that we-writes itself on demand. We learn how potatoes could form the basis of future plastics and a new way to think about 'bone china', as ceramics and polymers could replace your broken bones. Also, we discover where sea turtles spend their childhood, how a microRNA gene switch could put the brakes on the spread of cancer and how thousands of cases of breast cancer could be avoided without medication. Plus, in Kitchen Science, we show you how a simple cotton handkerchief can hold back a torrent of water!
Listen to this Show (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2007.09.30/)
If you want to discuss this show, or ask a question, this is the place to do it.
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Dave, Ben. I did the experiment, and got the correct result. I then repeated it, but this time i added soap to the water in the glass. I got the same result! Why did the reduced surface tension not result in the water flowing more freely through the hankerchief?
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Also, what is the difference between a rainproof and a stormproof coat? Is it the size of the "hole's" in the material, which i suppose is a kind of mesh?
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I think it is because soap reduces the surface tension, but doesn't actually kill it (soap bubbles are still pulled into spheres), and the holes are so small and the difference in pressures are still quite small so you would have to reduce it further.