Pouring Oil On Troubled Waters

[John]

OK, it's a bit like watching paint dry.

But interesting all the same.

[youtube]00PPPt7EJqo[/youtube]

[w00dward]

I'm confused..

Was is crude or virgin?

[prospero]

How to get rid of your waste oil...... Put it on YouTube on the pretext of a scientific demo.

I spend a lot of time watching paint dry..... Can't get enough of it.

[w00dward]

Ah, now I understand my confusion. Apparently our over-zelous IT manager (me) decided some time ago to block all youtube access. I couldn't see the video.

I've managed to get on my "test" internet connection and view it.

[Bill Henry]

I'm confused..

Was is crude or virgin?

I’m confused, too. What’s the difference between “Virgin” and “Extra-Virgin” oil?

With virgin, you just get a “No!”?

With extra-virgin, in addition to a “No!”, you get your face slapped, too?

[w00dward]

I always thought extra-virgin was twins..

[prospero]

Virgin wool comes from sheep that can run very fast.

Ohhhhhhhhhhhh please yerself.

[Jonny2morsos]

And the scientific explanation?

If my memory of physical chemistry serves me correctly water has very strong cohesive properties that is to say it has a strong attraction for like molecules i.e other water molecules as opposed to adhesive properties which is an attraction of unlike molecules as we experience when we use glues (adhesives). The cohesive properties of water molecules are strongest at the water surface as we notice when viewing a meniscus, that upward slope you see when looking at water around the edge of a drinking glass. This is known a surface tension.

Break the surface tension with a low viscosity substance which is less dense than water i.e. it floats and spreads over the surface rapidly breaking the surface tension and there is no longer a strong cohesive force at the water/air interface and so the waves dissipate.

I'm off to see if the same happens in my beer glass.

John.