When Water Flows Uphill

In the Leidenfrost Effect, a water droplet will float on a layer of its own vapor if heated to certain temperature. This common cooking phenomenon takes center stage in a series of playful experiments by physicists at the University of Bath, who discovered new and fun means to manipulate the movement of water.

Researchers test ridged surfaces in order to control the movements of hot water.

[SiddharthBhandari_official]

"as one might expect from a team of under grads... a creative idea took hold"
respect to people who give enough respect to the excitement and creativity of undergrads.. and not use them as labors.. or consider their ideas immature

[MrFlippyMusic]

Came to see water flowing uphill.

Was not disappointed.

[alecwhatshisname]

the Leiden frost maze is so ridiculous.

I want five.

[brentfellers]

As a kid I was fascinated with how water "danced" on the wood stove. Now I know more! Thanks 😊

[RhysMogg]

I went to the university of Bath, and I was doing my undergraduate thesis research at the same time as these guys were conducting the Leidenfrost investigation. We met because they wanted to borrow the high speed camera I was using. They showed me the sawtooth block, perhaps the first and only one they had at that point. I stupidly scraped my fingernail across it to feel the texture, and the group of physicists freaked out. I felt terrible. Sorry guys! Hope I didn't set you back too far!

[hanspeter]

now please tell me:
how often did you accidently touched the tiles?

[yzftony]

use different colored dyed water and have races

[skoomskaa]

That maze was one of the coolest things I've ever seen. I noticed this effect years ago before I ever knew what it was called. I set a frying pan that had some water on the bottom down on a hot ceramic cooktop and the pan actually moved across the cooktop. I could feel the water droplets keeping the pan from touching the cooking surface. Now I know what was causing it. Thanks!

[psy]

Fascinating! Wonder what would happen if the serrated edges are angled more steeply? Would it give greater push in the direction of the surface vector?

[lawrencegates]

Now this is the science i pictured before high school. I wish there was more stuff like this available to teach in schools. There are many possibilities utilising this effect in conjunction with other odd physics.

[stopfidgetting]

This is why I AM interested in science. It's stuff like this that inspires me keep on learning and experimenting.

[isaacyoung]

University of "bath". Coincidence? I think not.

[Nemoticon]

An analytical mind paired with creativity and a touch of playfulness, can result in wonderful things.

[davidgohrt]

Very good. For reference, swirl tanks are used when quenching componets of a critical nature post heat treatment. The swirl causes the collapse of the leidenfrost effect ensuring the water is in contact with the component at all times during quenching. This ensures no disparity exists in the material quench which would cause soft/hard spots in the material metallurgy.

[Jonsson]

I sometimes noticed this effect as a child when dropping water on a hot wood stove. Fascinating.

[tybrewing]

This video is so cool. Just enough flair and the right amount of information behind it. Well done.

[mediding]

"behold, the Leidenfrost Maze"

translation: enjoy the mindfuck

[gregerfulgerman]

dye them different colors and race them

[christopherharper]

Just think how lucky everyone single one of us is to have the very device your holding in your hands right now. I love coming across interesting and educational things just like this. I have probably learned more from YouTube than school could teach me. Great vid by the way 👏

[jjktng]

Love the way you narrate it and let him explain things going back and forth