The Optimal Faucet
Publication information:
H. Henry Chen and Michael P. Brenner. 2004. “The Optimal Faucet”. Physical Review Letters, 92, 16. doi:10.1103/physrevlett.92.166106
Abstract
The production of small fluid droplets relies on an instability of solutions to the Young-Laplace equation. We ask whether smaller droplets can be produced by changing the shape of the nozzle. At a given critical pressure, the circular nozzle actually produces the largest droplet. The droplet volume can be decreased by up to 18% using a triangular nozzle with stretched corners.