Stilling Waves with Ordered Molecular Monolayers.

• Autores: Ed Vitz
• Localización: Journal of chemical education, ISSN 0021-9584, Vol. 85, Nº 8, 2008, págs. 1064-1066
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • A demonstration of the damping effect of an oil monolayer on water waves is described. The history of this remarkable demonstration�with a 2000 (or more) year span�and a brief explanation in terms of the properties of water and the monolayer are presented. If a layer of olive oil, one molecule thick (about one-ten millionth of a centimeter), is applied to the surface of rough water, the waves are dramatically calmed. The amazing ability of a film one molecule thick to dissipate the relatively large energy of water waves can be readily demonstrated, but an explanation of the effect has been elusive until recently.