I will be analyzing the splash dynamics of a Newtonian mixture and colloidal suspensions in the Driscoll Physics Lab. Splashing is a meaningful area of study due to its relevance in art, technology, and nature. First, one can understand how the physical properties of paint residue produce the final appearance of a painting by analyzing drop patterns in watercolor paintings. In addition, one must understand splash dynamics in the area of inkjet printing in order to properly vary the size and velocity of a drop of ink, thereby affecting the quality of a print. Finally, one can see how splashing plays a central role in soil erosion by influencing the rate of erosion and thereby affecting the constitution of the ground.
Although there have been numerous studies on the drop impacts of pure substances, there have only been preliminary studies of whether the impact of a drop changes based on the concentration and type of particle dissolved in that drop.
Hence, I will be exploring the question, “How does the splash of a colloidal suspension vary in form based on the concentration and type of colloidal particle?”
I will be comparing the dynamics of the liquid sheet produced by the impact of a glycerol-water Newtonian mixture and that of a colloidal suspension. The glycerol-water mixture is considered to be a Newtonian fluid due to the linear relationship between its viscosity and shear stress.
After testing the Newtonian fluid, I will vary the colloidal suspension mixture by altering the type and concentration of particle dissolved. The goal throughout this procedure is to quantify the differences between the drop impact of the Newtonian fluid and that of colloidal suspensions.