An apparatus to study the collision and coalescence of liquid aerosols

Abstract

An apparatus used to study collision and coalescence of liquid aerosols and some of the physical quantities enhancing or hindering these processes is described. The relative trajectories, collision, and coalescence of two oppositely charged water droplets are shown for the droplets approaching at right angles. The droplets were 96 μ and 79 μ in radius and had velocities at impact of 330 cm./sec. and 110 cm./sec., respectively. It was found extremely difficult to make the two droplets collide when both were highly charged with the same sign of charge. However, droplets highly charged with the opposite sign of charge had a high collision rate.