Imagine trying to pour a glass of orange juice in zero gravity. It may not be as easy as it sounds. Investigators want to measure the internal fluid flows induced by the acoustic field as well as the surface tension on the drops.
Surface tension is the property of a liquid's surface that, like a skin, holds it together.
The results could improve manufacturing processes here on Earth and in space by providing new ways to monitor and control liquids. The Physics of Orange Juice Colloidal mixtures are systems of fine particles suspended in fluid. Milk, orange juice, and paint are some common examples. On Earth, gravity causes the denser particles in a colloidal suspension to settle to the bottom, which is why some colloids, like orange juice and paint, must be stirred before use. Microgravity enables scientists to study colloids because the effects of density differences between particles and their surrounding fluids are decreased.