Water thread experiment

<p>The water thread experiment is a phenomenon that occurs when two containers of <a href="/facts/Purified_water/r0mpReV1">deionized water</a>, placed on an insulator, are connected by a thread, then a <a href="/facts/High-voltage/lUy99k3E">high-voltage</a> positive <a href="/facts/Electric_charge/xxsBfmlB">electric charge</a> is applied to one container, and a negative charge to the other. At a critical voltage, an unsupported water liquid bridge is formed between the containers, which will remain even when they are separated. The phenomenon was first reported in 1893 in a public lecture by the British engineer <a href="/facts/William_Armstrong,_1st_Baron_Armstrong/yXcaSs3m">William Armstrong</a>.
</p><p>The bridge as observed in a typical configuration has a diameter of 1–3 mm so the bridge remains intact when pulled as far as 25 millimetres (0.98 in), and remains stable up to 45 minutes. The surface temperature also rises from an initial surface temperature of 20 °C (68 °F) up to 60 °C (140 °F) before breakdown.
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Water thread experiment open-in-new

Water thread experiment