[Boris]

Ok - a question for the brainiacs that is puzzling me.

When you are drinking traditional green tea, or that delicious fruit tea made from dried ingrediants, you get the bits floating on the top. To be polite you dont want to be spiting the bits out all over the place.

So -- to be polite you spot the best clear area on the surface and attempt to turn the cup ( or glass ) around to take a sip of it in the clear area.

HOWEVER - it always happens that allthough you turn the container, the " floaters " stay in the same position relative to your mouth. i.e.the cup / glass moves but the surface doesn't.

WHY?

In my thinking, if the surface tension is a friction factor surely it should move with the container? But it doesn't.

WHY?

Help me sleep at night please !

[nicolejoy]

I think it has to do with relativity A bit like how when the train starts moving, you jerk backwards... but I could be wrong

[freeier]

the inertia of water against moving.
the only force the tea experienced from the cup are at the side. so when you turn your cup some of the water move but most of it remains in the original spot due to inertia.

[Raymeander]

from what i can remember from chemistry ......

all things have inertia, amount of force required before it can move, the friction force of turning the cup breaks the weak bonds between the warter molecules allowing then to slide past each other. the inertia of the centre of the body of luquid and the sipperyness othe water menas that bit of tea stay put

For thicker liquids like custard whcih have particles which cant slip past each other (stronger bonds between particles ) , can keep its structure better and moves as one..

i rekon anyway !

[hottie]

Try cutting back on the tea...

>Help me sleep at night please !

[jayinhongkong]

If you turn the cup fast enough and tilt it, the bits will stay put.

[MrMoo]

Originally Posted by Boris

To be polite you dont want to be spiting the bits out all over the place.

I think you forgot this is Hong Kong

Instead of spitting, just take the leaves out of your mouth with your hand and place on the saucer.

[hullexile]

The tea is genetically modified so the leaves sense the warmth of your lips (but only gweilo lips) and are attracted to them. Cunning buggers these Chinese.

[kombuchakid]

Use a french press if it bothers you so much. Otherwise munch it down and think of it as a betel nut leaf.

[Boris]

Jeez Boys - this post was 2 1/2 yrs ago.
I have PhD from this now !!!