
A Drop In The Ocean

by Science Photo Library
Title
A Drop In The Ocean
Artist
Science Photo Library
Medium
Photograph - Photograph
Description
Water drop falling into the ocean. The phrase 'a drop in the ocean' is a common metaphor for a very small amount in comparison to the amount that is needed. A hundred thousand may seem a lot but it's a drop in the ocean compared to the millions that need to be spent". A phrase often used to discount the potency of homeopathic medicines. The water drop is held in a roughly spherical shape by surface tension. Surface tension is responsible for the shape of liquid droplets. Although easily deformed, droplets of water tend to be pulled into a spherical shape by the cohesive forces of the surface layer. In the absence of other forces, including gravity, drops of virtually all liquids would be perfectly spherical. The spherical shape minimizes the necessary "wall tension" of the surface layer according to Laplace's law. Photographed with high speed flash."
Uploaded
December 14th, 2014
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