Space cups.
- Thread starter Magnus von Thornwood
- Start date
Astronaut Invents Zero-G Coffee Cup
http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/081124-sts126-zerog-coffee-B.html
http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/081124-sts126-zerog-coffee-B.html
Commander Truestar
SOC-13
Well, I see I was wrong
Great news though! Coffee will not prevent Humans from exploring space.
Marc
Thanks all.
The bit nyrath posted just got reposted over to facebook. That was way cool and I guess answers my question.
Thanks again all.
The bit nyrath posted just got reposted over to facebook. That was way cool and I guess answers my question.
Thanks again all.
far-trader
SOC-14 10K
Nice find nyrath
Brilliantly simple, simply brilliant. The gift shops at Kennedy Space Center should be selling these. They'd make a mint on them!
Icosahedron
SOC-14 1K
Hmm, I'm usually pretty good with things like this, but I just can't get my head around how that thing works. 
Anyone able to explain it?
Anyone able to explain it?
far-trader
SOC-14 10K
I can try*. Surface tension and capillary action are the keys, I think 
The surface tension of liquids mean they will stick to the insides of the "cup" and not spill out (I like where he lets it float and nothing spills while it spins). The shape (a specific degree, mentioned in the vid as a formula iirc, of "teardrop" curve and crease) will cause the liquid to "collect" along the crease through a capillary action, where you can then sip it out.
* I think I get this, but I'm trying to wrap my head around another idea in another thread and getting dizzy
The surface tension of liquids mean they will stick to the insides of the "cup" and not spill out (I like where he lets it float and nothing spills while it spins). The shape (a specific degree, mentioned in the vid as a formula iirc, of "teardrop" curve and crease) will cause the liquid to "collect" along the crease through a capillary action, where you can then sip it out.
* I think I get this, but I'm trying to wrap my head around another idea in another thread and getting dizzy
Hmm, I'm usually pretty good with things like this, but I just can't get my head around how that thing works.
Anyone able to explain it?
Surface tension... the propensity of most fluids to attempt to minimize their surface area exposed to another immiscible fluid (gas or liquid).
Surface tension means that, on a flat surface, water tries to form a hemisphere. When confronted with two adjacent surfaces, it tries to form as small a bubble as it can... which, if the two are less than 90°, will be a triangular prism with rounded ends.
The narrower the opening, the longer the prism can be to minimize the surface area. This cup's design means that, as you remove volume, the prism stays the full length, forming a prism in the vertex.
