Naked Science Forum

General Science => General Science => Topic started by: WylieE on 17/09/2007 17:01:52

Title: Water on a hot skillet
Post by: WylieE on 17/09/2007 17:01:52

Hi All,
 
  Why when you drop water in a hot skillet does it roll around and not just evaporate immediately?
  I am assuming this has something to do with surface tension- but if y'all could provide a real explanation I would appreciate it!

If this has already been answered, please help me find the link, I couldn't find it in a quick search.

Thanks!

Title: Water on a hot skillet
Post by: DrDick on 17/09/2007 17:05:11

Essentially, it's riding on a cushion of water vapor.  At the brief moment of contact between the drop of water and the skillet, water does evaporate.  But this action results in a small explosion which propels the drop of water upwards away from the skillet.

Dick

Title: Water on a hot skillet
Post by: lightarrow on 17/09/2007 17:46:02

Quote from: DrDick on 17/09/2007 17:05:11

Essentially, it's riding on a cushion of water vapor.  At the brief moment of contact between the drop of water and the skillet, water does evaporate.  But this action results in a small explosion which propels the drop of water upwards away from the skillet.

Dick

Yes, and the low value of water's thermal conductivity makes the rest.

Title: Water on a hot skillet
Post by: WylieE on 17/09/2007 18:22:37

Thanks!

Title: Water on a hot skillet
Post by: neilep on 17/09/2007 18:31:49

Colleen....water is a very sensitive thing !!..If I was walking across hot coals then I would be tiptoeing as fast as I could akin the the rolling water on the hot skillet....The water is just doing the same thing.....next time...place your ear close to the water on the skillet...ewe should hear " ooh ouch..ouch ooh."

...Be nice to water....water luffs ewe !!...don't abuse water !!

Glad I could help !

Title: Water on a hot skillet
Post by: WylieE on 17/09/2007 20:06:32

Thanks Neil!
Next time I walk across hot coals, I'll be sure to remember that [;)]

Title: Water on a hot skillet
Post by: neilep on 17/09/2007 20:12:19

Quote from: WylieE on 17/09/2007 20:06:32

Thanks Neil!
Next time I walk across hot coals, I'll be sure to remember that [;)]

LOL..Hugs Colleen !!

Title: Water on a hot skillet
Post by: Karen W. on 17/09/2007 20:20:14

LOLYes I would be interested in seeing a demo Neily! LOL You Know the Hot coals thing as apposed to the water in the hot skillet! I bet you would hot foot it it across the pain.

I am sure the pan is very hot as stated but the water is surely cooler then the pan and as the water disperses into the pan I would thing the intial water reactin would be to sizzle untill the amount of water became too much for the pan to retain its previous temperature pryor to the water so it stops poping and dancing! Water cools the pan in larger doses so amall drops would dance as it is not sufficent eough in a tiny splatter to decrease the temp enough  to allow pan cooling! My uneducated guess!

Title: Water on a hot skillet
Post by: lightarrow on 17/09/2007 22:24:56

Quote from: Karen W. on 17/09/2007 20:20:14

LOLYes I would be interested in seeing a demo Neily! LOL You Know the Hot coals thing as apposed to the water in the hot skillet! I bet you would hot foot it it across the pain.

I am sure the pan is very hot as stated but the water is surely cooler then the pan and as the water disperses into the pan I would thing the intial water reactin would be to sizzle untill the amount of water became too much for the pan to retain its previous temperature pryor to the water so it stops poping and dancing! Water cools the pan in larger doses so amall drops would dance as it is not sufficent eough in a tiny splatter to decrease the temp enough  to allow pan cooling! My uneducated guess!

Right.

Title: Water on a hot skillet
Post by: lightarrow on 17/09/2007 22:38:36

Quote from: neilep on 17/09/2007 18:31:49

Colleen....water is a very sensitive thing !!..If I was walking across hot coals then I would be tiptoeing as fast as I could akin the the rolling water on the hot skillet....The water is just doing the same thing.....next time...place your ear close to the water on the skillet...ewe should hear " ooh ouch..ouch ooh."

Yes, even because the two situations are very similar: people can walk on hot coals just because the sudden evaporation of sweat from their feet prevent them to be reached by the hot coals high temperatures, as water evaporation from the drops prevent them to get in intimate contact with the hot pan.

Title: Water on a hot skillet
Post by: Karen W. on 17/09/2007 22:47:52

Quote from: lightarrow on 17/09/2007 22:24:56

Quote from: Karen W. on 17/09/2007 20:20:14

LOLYes I would be interested in seeing a demo Neily! LOL You Know the Hot coals thing as apposed to the water in the hot skillet! I bet you would hot foot it it across the pain.

I am sure the pan is very hot as stated but the water is surely cooler then the pan and as the water disperses into the pan I would thing the intial water reactin would be to sizzle untill the amount of water became too much for the pan to retain its previous temperature pryor to the water so it stops poping and dancing! Water cools the pan in larger doses so amall drops would dance as it is not sufficent eough in a tiny splatter to decrease the temp enough  to allow pan cooling! My uneducated guess!

Right.

Woo HOO! Maybe I am not so dumb after all! LOL LOL Thanks alberto nice to finaly be even close to the right answer! LOL!