Leidenfrost Drop Levitation

Above the Leidenfrost temperature (~200°C for water), a vapor film forms beneath a droplet. The film pressure balances gravity; vapor escapes radially, propelling the drop. Droplet lifetime scales as t ~ R₀^(8/5) — mass loss through vapor film.

Controls

Plate Temp T (°C) 250 Drop Radius R₀ (mm) 3.0 Tilt angle θ (°) 0

Film gap h (μm): —

Evap rate (mg/s): —

Lifetime (s): —

Leidenfrost? —

Velocity (cm/s): —