How long does it take to get last liquid drops from kitchen containers?

2 days ago

Physicists at Brown University studied the time it takes for the last drops of liquid to drain from tilted containers.
The study used Navier-Stokes equations and experiments to analyze thin liquid films in kitchen scenarios.
Drain time varies by viscosity: milk takes ~30 seconds for 90% drainage, while olive oil takes over 9 minutes.
Research originated from lab work on bacterial biophysics, focusing on fluid mechanics applications.
Two kitchen-inspired questions drove the study: extracting last drops from containers and drying a cast iron wok.
Experiments confirmed theoretical predictions, showing water decants in seconds, while cold maple syrup takes hours.
For the wok problem, optimal wait time to pool residual water before dumping was calculated as ~15 minutes.
The study highlights the intersection of everyday physics with scientific research, emphasizing public engagement.

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