A strong acoustic field can do some crazy things to a drop of liquid. Sound is already pretty neat – It helps us communicate, and the sound of music can even help heal a broken heart. Turns out, sound can also do some pretty mind-boggling things to a drop of liquid. Scientists from Clemson University used an ultrasonic wave to suspend a drop of liquid in midair. The acoustic environment flattens the liquid from its spherical shape, but the droplets surface tension allows it to stay intact.
Now for the real cool part: they figured out how to manipulate the drop’s shape by increasing the strength of the acoustic field. In other words, the higher the frequency and amplitude of the waves, the more excited the drop would become. Increase the frequency too much though, and the drop completely loses surface tension and dissipates.
Check out the video below for more on this scientific sound phenomenon. And make sure to share this amazing video with your friends! It might just be the coolest thing you see all day: