SPSU Mathematics Colloquium
On the shape of rotating drops
John McCuan Georgia
Institute of Technology
Thursday, November 18, 2:30 PM D-235 Refreshments
at 2:10
A liquid drop removed from the effects of gravity (in outer
space, for example) can rotate and attain quasi-equilibrium non-spherical
shapes. Under certain circumstances such a drop can take the form of a torus or
ring and subsequently break up into many droplets that rotate around the central
axis. Initially seen as a model for the formation of structures like Saturn's
rings or the planets revolving around the Sun, the equations governing such
quasi-equilibrium liquid shapes hold many mysteries. I will talk about some of
the questions which may be posed and some recent progress on one of them.
