How To Avoid Spilling Coffee
May 6, 2012 in Daily Bulletin
At a fluid dynamics conference two researchers noticed that conference-goers had significant amounts of trouble preventing their drinks from spilling. Seeing as this was a fluids dynamics conference this struck them as somewhat ironic, writes Jon Cartwright, and inspired the two to research how best to avoid spilling coffee. Their findings include:
- The researchers asked experiment participants to walk at different speeds with a full mug of coffee in their hands, in a laboratory that was specially equipped with cameras designed to track the sloshing of the liquid.
- They found that mugs have natural frequencies that are related to a person’s leg movements as they walk.
- The research suggests that individuals should leave a gap of about one centimeter between the top of the liquid and the top of the mug to avoid spills.
- The most effective way to avoid spills is to watch your coffee as you walk – that almost guarantees no spills.
To read about the technologies that coffee mug manufacturers could employ to make their mugs more spill resistant, why they probably won’t, some of the limitations of the study, the “Nobel” prize that they might win, and more details about how the study was conducted, click here.
Source: Science Magazine
I waited tables at a Japanese Restaurant for three years. We served soup and beverages and not only were we not supposed to spill, we didn’t want to leave any soup or liquid residue above the fill line when we served it – for presentation. I found NOT looking at the bowl was most effective, walking steadily while looking forward. This requires more research. Could it be I’m thinking of bowls?
Yeah, the more I look at my drink the more nervous and shaky I get and the more likely I am to spill it.
I think it’s probably just if you’re thinking about the fact that you might soon spill your coffee you’re more likely to spill it. If you don’t think about it then you’re less likely to spill it. So if you’re looking at the coffee you’re probably doing it because you’re worried about spilling it and then you spill it. If you’re not looking at it you’re probably not thinking about it.
The way they ran the experiment is by having people either look or not look at the coffee – but if the participants knew that the experiment was about spilling coffee then they were probably thinking about it regardless of whether or not they were looking at it. And if somebody is already thinking about it then it’s probably just better to watch the liquid and walk slowly rather than not watch it.
The key to not spilling it is to not think about it, I’m guessing.
That seems…counter intuitive. In my experience looking at it nd being careful means I’m less likely to let it spill.
I’m not sure why bowls would be any different….