Article Type:
Research Article

A Note on “The Behavior of Large, Low-Surface-Tension Water Drops Falling at Terminal Velocity in Air”

A. W. Green Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 48109

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Print Publication:
01 Nov 1976
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0450(1976)015<1233:ANOBOL>2.0.CO;2
Page(s):
1233–1236
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Abstract

A heuristic explanation of Ryan's (1976) observations of water drop breakup is given in terms of the Rayleigh-Taylor instability of two superposed fluids. The critical values for drop instability agree with the observations. Ryan's measurements of drop deformations for pure water are consistently greater than experimental results of Pruppacher and Pitter (1971) and an approximate model proposed by Green (1975). A similar trend is found for drops with low surface tension.

Abstract

A heuristic explanation of Ryan's (1976) observations of water drop breakup is given in terms of the Rayleigh-Taylor instability of two superposed fluids. The critical values for drop instability agree with the observations. Ryan's measurements of drop deformations for pure water are consistently greater than experimental results of Pruppacher and Pitter (1971) and an approximate model proposed by Green (1975). A similar trend is found for drops with low surface tension.

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Cover Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology
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