Why does my teapot drip

It's the combination of this force and the hydrodynamic suction that keeps the liquid bound to the cylinder as it swirls downwards. Their new model accurately predicts when this crucial transition to "sticking," rather than detaching, from a solid surface like the cylinder or tea spout will occur.

You must login or create an account to comment. Skip to main content Enlarge. The fourth image was taken at the lowest speed at which a full helix can develop. Jennifer Ouellette Jennifer Ouellette is a senior writer at Ars Technica with a particular focus on where science meets culture, covering everything from physics and related interdisciplinary topics to her favorite films and TV series. Jennifer lives in Los Angeles.

Email jennifer. How awkward! What can you do about that drippy teapot spout? Well, I have several suggestions. But first, a bit about why teapots drip…yes, there is a reason other than just to annoy you. For decades this very question has plagued the scientifically minded as well as the rest of us. Many physicists thought it had to do with the surface tension of water — the force that holds a drop of water together and that gets broken when you boil water, causing those air bubbles.

Finally, though, a very plausible and reasonable answer has been put forward by a distinguished professor of engineering and mathematics: Dr. Joseph B. First, a fellow scientist showed that it was not surface tension causing those drips easy to disprove a theory and much of scientific effort is spent on doing just that. Then, Dr. Keller showed in his paper, The Teapot Effect , that it was air pressure causing the drips. I know, probably more than you care to think about when serving tea.

But it helps to know what causes a problem so you know how to solve it, bringing us to the following:. The drip catcher comes in two basic styles: those that fit over the spout and those that hang from the spout with cords and a decorative element that fits over the teapot to also hold the lid on.

Privacy Policy Feedback. Why teapots always DRIP: Sharp edge on the underside of the spout causes a drop to form that directs the entire flow down the side of the pot, study finds The 'teapot effect' was described by rheology pioneer Markus Reiner in Since then, experts have been struggling to explain the complex phenomenon Experts led from TU Wien modelled the flow and filmed tea pots being poured They found the effect comes from interplay between inertia and capillary forces When the flow is too slow, the drop at the end of the spout redirects the liquid By Ian Randall For Mailonline Published: GMT, 10 November Updated: GMT, 10 November e-mail 11 shares.

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All the staff in the office at Riyadh in Saudi Arabia liked their cup of tea, and the engineers who were based there often had refreshment from the office tea facility. It dripped in the same way that broken water filters would drip. One of the heads, who was also an engineer, was flying out of Saudi for London on the day that this matter came to a head, so they made a decision to deal with the matter once and for all, and that it should be done in a correct and logical manner, all in keeping with good engineering practice.

On arrival in London Len completed his business and then proceeded to Harrods of Knightsbridge, London, to purchase the best teapot in the world, plus all the bits that go with such a purchase. Having made his expensive purchase the goods were wrapped and boxed for export to Saudi Arabia, a taxi was ordered and Len departed for Heathrow Airport London with all his charges. On arrival In Saudi Arabia, he was taxied to the company offices where he delivered this finest porcelain teapot plus accessories.

The office staff opened the box and after the usual washing ceremony, tea was made.