Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: drsshivaprakash on 21/01/2019 06:47:41

Title: What shape will foam take in space?
Post by: drsshivaprakash on 21/01/2019 06:47:41

We know that liquids in space will be spherical and solids don't lose shape.
What about foams? What shape will they take if they were in a zero gravity environment?

Title: Re: What shape will foam take in space?
Post by: yor_on on 21/01/2019 11:00:19

How about spherical?

Title: Re: What shape will foam take in space?
Post by: Halc on 21/01/2019 13:08:28

Quote from: drsshivaprakash on 21/01/2019 06:47:41

We know that liquids in space will be spherical and solids don't lose shape.

Liquid (water at least) turns into frozen mist in space that quickly sublimes to gas.  You're apparently thinking about zero-G such as the environment inside the ISS, which is not in space any more than I am.

Quote

What about foams? What shape will they take if they were in a zero gravity environment?

Most foams (shaving cream, the foam insert in my sofa cushion) retain the same shape in zero G.  A pile of shaving cream (and the cushion for that matter) will squash out under enough gravity/acceleration, while in zero-G it could probably be sculpted into whatever fragile shape you like.

Title: Re: What shape will foam take in space?
Post by: RD on 21/01/2019 14:12:54

The lack of gravity will have little effect on foam,
the lack of atmospheric-pressure in space is far more significant ...