Rocket drops: The self-propulsion of supercooled freezing drops
Claudiu A. Stan, Armin Kalita, Sebastian Marte, Thomas F. Kaldawi, P. R. Willmott, Sébastien Boutet
Abstract
Supercooled water drops move spontaneously while freezing in vacuum. This self-propulsion phenomenon is caused by an enhanced evaporation rate from the frozen regions of the drops. The evaporating molecules carry momentum, and the drops acquire an opposite momentum, the same as in rocket propulsion.
Topics & Concepts
SupercoolingRocket (weapon)Momentum (technical analysis)Drop (telecommunication)PropulsionEvaporationAerospace engineeringSpacecraft propulsionMechanicsMaterials sciencePhysicsThermodynamicsEngineeringMechanical engineeringFinanceEconomicsFluid Dynamics and Heat TransferSurface Modification and SuperhydrophobicityGas Dynamics and Kinetic Theory