Unveiling the Mysteries of Drop Evaporation: a Step-by-Step Odyssey

Drop evaporation is what happens when a small drop of liquid, like water or fuel, dries up and turns into air. This process occurs when the drop is exposed to heat or warm air, causing the liquid to change into a gas. Drop evaporation is an important process that happens in many everyday situations, such as when you spill water on a hot surface, or when you see puddles drying up on a sunny day. Understanding how drop evaporation works can help us learn more about how liquids behave and how we can use them in different ways.

This setup is not just for fun. However, it is a DIY setup to research drop evaporation from various substrates. Because "Every drop counts"

Some of the benefits of studying drop evaporation :

1. Improves heat transfer and fuel efficiency.

2. Optimizes industrial processes like printing, coating, and chemical processing.

3. Enhances weather forecasting and climate modelling.

4. Leads to improved medical devices and agricultural practices.

5. Advances in material science, energy storage, and fundamental scientific understanding.

- Microscope slide or glass surface (substrate)

- Liquid of interest (e.g., water, oil, or solution) with known surface tension and viscosity.

- Pipette or dropper for precise drop deposition.

- Thermometer for temperature control.

- Humidity sensor for monitoring ambient humidity.

- Camera or microscope for high-magnification observations.

- Laptop/PC with Image J software installed.

Ensure the microscope slide or glass surface is scrupulously clean and dry to prevent contamination and unwanted interactions with the drop.

Carefully dispense a single drop of the liquid onto the substrate using the pipette or dropper, taking note of the initial drop diameter and volume.

Document the initial temperature (T) and humidity (H) using the thermometer and humidity sensor, respectively. These parameters will influence the evaporation rate.

Monitor the drop's shape, size, and behaviour by capturing videos. Take screenshots and analyse images using ImageJ software(national health Institute)

Measure the drop's diameter or volume at regular intervals (Δt) to calculate the evaporation rate (dV/dt), which will reveal the dynamics of the process.