With the nice Thank-Yous that I received regarding my last post regarding the physics behind weight and walking on the moon in an enclosed environment, I have decided to write a few more posts about the things that are a bit different living on the Moon. I am a chemist, not a physicist, but as you can tell, living here on the Moon has broadened my horizons by teaching me more about how the Universe works.
Let’s describe drinking liquids. Water has the same properties that it does on Earth. It flows, it has taste, it freezes and boils at the same temperatures, it has ripples inside of a glass, and it splashes. But when it is in motion here on the Moon, it does appear to behave differently from what we are used to because of the difference in gravity from Earth. When you pour it, it falls into your glass more slowly. Any spatter caused by surface friction during the pour will shoot up higher. Ripples inside the glass will be taller, but not wider.
This means when you are handed your first liquid drink upon your arrival, it will be contained differently than what you are used to. Most restaurants will use tall glasses filled halfway. The higher rim reduces the accidental splash of the liquid outside of the glass. If you do spill something on the table, you have a bit more time to mop it up before it flows onto the floor or your lap. Popular right now, are sippy cups for adults. Just like for children, they are designed to reduce spills. This comes about as people are getting tired of the more common experience of receiving drinks in bottles or sturdy bags, with sealable caps. A sippy cup feels a bit more civilized than drinking from a bottle. Or more grown up, I guess.
