ChE688 Fundamentals of Colloid and Interface Science & Technology

Problemset 1 Due Date: 5 February 2018

1. Consider an ellipse with major axis a and minor axis b described by the equation
( x )2 ( y )2
+ =1
a b
with major axis a, and minor axis b as shown in the figure 1.
(a) Will the curvature of the ellipse change as a function of position on the surface of the ellipse?
Give reasons.
(b) Determine the curvature at points A and B in the ellipse as shown in the figure.
(c) Then consider an ellipsoid obtained by revolving the ellipse about the major axis and deter-
mine the curvature of the ellipsoid at point A.
(d) Carry out a similar exercise for the revolution of the ellipse about the minor axis and determine
the curvature of the ellipsoid at point B

A y=b
x=a
B x

A
B

Figure 1: Problem 1: Curvature of an ellipse and an ellipsoid of revolution.

2. Consider the meniscus of water against a vertical flat plate with which it makes a contact angle
of 0◦ . Calculate the distance from the plate where the elevation is one micrometer above the undis-
turbed surface. Take surface tension of water to be 70 × 10−3 N/m, and g ≈ 10 m/s2 .

3. In one of the methods to determine surface tension experimentally, air is passed through a capil-
lary (of radius R) which emerges out of the capillary in a pool of water to form an air bubble. The
pressure required to form the bubble is monitored at various stages, and the stages of the bubble are
shown in the schematic (figure 2).
(a) Qualitatively sketch the pressure of air in the capillary (more appropriately the pressure dif-
ference between air in the nozzle and the liquid pool outside) as a function of bubble volume
V as per the different stages (denoted by a, b, and c) in the schematic figure.
(b) Think about when the pressure difference will be a maximum, and based on this derive an
expression for the surface tension of the water-air interface (i.e. how is it related to the
pressure difference).
Hint for part (b): Based on the curvature of the bubble at various stages in the schematic,
argue what the pressure difference must be.

1
 Figure 2: Problem 3: Bubble emerging out of a capillary at different stages.

4. Consider the configuration shown in figure 3, where two bubbles of different radii are connected
by a small capillary. Initially the valve is closed. When the valve is opened, discuss the way in
which air will flow. Also, what will be the final equilibrium state of this system?

Figure 3: Problem 4: Two bubbles of different radii connected to each other.

5. In this problem, we would like to make a rough estimate of the surface tension required to keep
a thin needle ”float” on the surface of water. The needle may be approximated as a slender cylinder
of diameter d against which water has a contact angle of 45◦ . Make approximate estimates of the
downward force due to gravity (per unit length) on the needle and the force due to surface tension,
and balance the two forces to get the estimate for the surface tension.
6. Derive, from simple considerations, the capillary rise between two parallel plates of infinite
length inclined at an angle of θ to each other, and meeting at the liquid surface, as illustrated in
figure 4. Assume zero contact angle and a circular cross section for the meniscus. Note that the area
of the liquid surface changes with its position. Assume the tiny gap between the plates at the liquid
surface to be negligible (although it is required for the liquid to rise in the wedge).

2
 θ

Figure 4: Problem 6: Capillary rise in a wedge-shaped channel.