On the Influence of Surface Tension on the Surface Profile of a Rotating Liquid

Abstract

An expression is calculated for the surface profile of a rotating liquid, taking surface tension into account. The expression should be valid for conditions in which the surface is rather flat except very near the wall, and it is predicted that the profile is obtained by superposing the usual parabolic profile due to rotation alone on a slightly modified form of the profile due to surface tension alone. This principle of superposition has been verified by measurements on rotating water, and the experimental accuracy is just sufficient to confirm the expected modification of the surface tension contribution.