Recommended Free Tools
Charging a liquid drop can suppress splashing under the right conditions, but it is not a universal switch. In a 2025 experiment, sufficiently charged drops stopped splashing on dielectric surfaces such as glass and alumina; the effect was not observed on the conductive surfaces tested. The difference comes down to how electrical forces affect the fast-spreading liquid sheet and the thin film of air beneath it.
How can electrical charge stop a drop from splashing?
When a drop strikes a surface, a thin sheet of liquid—called the ejecting lamella—spreads rapidly outward. Whether that sheet stays attached or lifts and breaks into smaller droplets depends in part on the thin air film between the liquid and the solid.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
The authors of the 2025 study propose that electrical attraction pulls the charged lamella toward the substrate. That changes the lubrication air film at the liquid–solid interface and makes it harder for the sheet to lift off and fragment. The paper’s abstract describes the force as pulling the lamella toward the substrate and producing a thinner air film. This is the proposed mechanism, not a claim that charge prevents every kind of splash in every setting. The study, “Why Charged Drops Do Not Splash,” in Physical Review Letters, also develops a framework relating the splash threshold velocity to drop charge and substrate dielectric constant.
What did the experiment show?
Fanfei Yu and colleagues reported the study in Physical Review Letters 134, 134001, published by the American Physical Society on 1 April 2025. The APS explainer describes typical ethanol drops about 0.8 mm in diameter. The researchers adjusted drop charge with an electric field created by a syringe needle and copper ring, then let drops fall onto a horizontal surface. In the described setup, the impact surface was 20–60 cm below the needle. APS Physics’ explanation of the experiment gives 0.1 nC as an example charge at which splashing was entirely suppressed.
#1 Best Overall
- Please confirm the model that suits you before buying! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
That 0.1 nC figure belongs to this experiment’s conditions; it is not a universal minimum charge. Splashing also depends on impact conditions and surface properties, and the study’s threshold framework explicitly connects the outcome to charge and the substrate’s dielectric constant. A drop that remains splash-free in one setup may behave differently at another speed or on another material.
Why does the surface material matter?
The study’s supplemental experiments found reduced splashing on dielectric glass and corundum (alumina), but not on the conductive surfaces tested, including ITO glass and silicon wafers. The authors attribute the difference to charge dissipating when a drop contacts a conductor. On a dielectric, charge remains with the drop longer as it spreads, allowing the electrical force to influence the lamella for longer.
Rank #2
- 150 EXCITING EXPERIMENTS FOR KIDS: DIY projects to get kids' minds humming, try one of these science experiments, which cover topics like earth, surface tension, chemistry, physics and more.
- EASY-TO-FOLLOW SCIENTIFIC MANUAL: Well-illustrated in a step-by-step format, which makes the experiments easy to follow. it is easy and fun to incorporate basic lessons when doing science experiments with your kids at home and in a hands-on way.
- ALMOST TOOLS & MATERIALS NEEDED INCLUDED: high-quality lab science tools and kids-friendly materials. kids can wear goggles to do experiments like real scientists. there are plenty of cool projects you can do with regular household items.
- FUN EXPERIMENTS TIME FOR LITTLE SCIENTIST: Nurture your kids' curiosity by introducing simple science experiments! Science experiments give children the opportunity to explore and learn in new ways.
- LEARNING & EDUCATIONAL SCIENCE GIFTS IDEAD: for Christmas, birthdays, summer-winter activities, school breaks, and weekend fun. The kids will get a good way to learn through play, and also parents will get some quality science time in with kids.
So “solid surface” is too broad a description of where the effect works: electrical properties matter. The results establish a contrast among the materials tested, not a guarantee for every glass, ceramic, metal, coated surface, or liquid.
Could this matter for printing or coatings?
Potentially. The authors point to droplet-related technologies including surface coatings, spray cooling, and printing; APS also highlights spray coating and inkjet printing as contexts where impact control could matter. If a process can control charge, impact conditions, and substrate properties, reducing unwanted splashing could be useful. But the experiment does not establish industrial-scale performance, productivity gains, costs, or a ready-to-use process. These are prospective applications, not commercial outcomes demonstrated by the paper.
Rank #3
- EXPLORE SURFACE TENSION || Demonstrates how water acts like a stretched membrane, preventing particles from sinking.
- INTERACTIVE INVESTIGATION || Introduces the effects of a wetting agent in reducing surface tension and breaking the water’s surface.
- HANDS-ON LEARNING || Engages students in observing physical chemistry principles through an easy-to-perform experiment.
- STANDARDS-ALIGNED || Supports NGSS concepts in physical science, including PS1.A and HS-PS1-3.
- KIT CONTENTS || Includes sulfur powder (15g) and green dish detergent (5mL) for multiple experiments.
How does this compare with earlier work on charged drops?
A 2019 Soft Matter study examined a related but distinct effect: how weakly charged droplets alter the thin gas film beneath an impacting drop. Under representative impact conditions, its abstract reports a critical charge of approximately 1% of the Rayleigh limit, above which Maxwell stress deformed the drop’s bottom and a conical tip pierced the gas film. That work focuses on air-film dynamics; the 2025 paper asks how charge can suppress splashing. The earlier threshold should not be treated as the charge needed to stop a splash. The 2019 Soft Matter study describes the gas-film result.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- VISUAL CAPILLARY ACTION DEMONSTRATION: Four transparent tubes with different inner diameters allow students to clearly observe how liquid rises to different heights, helping teachers explain capillary action, adhesion, cohesion and surface tension through a direct hands-on experiment
- FOUR DIFFERENT TUBE SIZES: The included clear tubes feature varying openings to create visible differences during liquid experiments, allowing students to compare fluid behavior side by side and better understand how tube diameter affects capillary rise during classroom demonstrations
- STABLE DISPLAY STAND WITH TRAY: The metal support frame keeps the tubes vertically aligned while the blue plastic base provides a dedicated liquid tray, creating an organized experiment setup that is easy to position on laboratory tables, science desks or classroom demonstration areas
- CLEAR MATERIAL FOR EASY OBSERVATION: Transparent tubes provide an unobstructed view of liquid movement so students can monitor changes throughout the experiment, making the apparatus suitable for teacher demonstrations, student observations and introductory physics or chemistry activities
- FOR SCHOOL AND STEM LEARNING: Designed for science classrooms, laboratories, homeschool lessons and STEM activities, this compact teaching apparatus helps turn abstract concepts into visible experiments and supports lessons involving fluid mechanics, surface tension and capillary phenomena
Rank #4
- WHAT YOU GET: The Extreme Bubble Science Kit includes 28 assorted components, and a colorful, step-by-step instructional guide featuring 11 bubble activities. The guide includes explanations on how th
- HANDS-ON EXPERIMENTS: The kit provides the opportunity to conduct safe, amazing experiments at home or in school. Encourages curiosity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, as well as nurtur
- EXPLORE SCIENCE/STEM: This engaging and high-quality kit teaches children the physics and science behind bubbles, such as bubble formation and popping, elasticity, surface tension, and the properties
- FUN AND INTERACTIVE: Blowing bubbles encourages outdoor play and physical activity. Playing with bubbles enhances fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and sensory development. Bubbles also spark
- SCIENCE-FAIR CONNECTIONS: Whether used for independent exploration, or as the subject of a great science-fair project, the kit offers fun, structured experiments for young scientists!
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
