Mass loss and distortion of freely falling water drops in an electric field

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The deformation and rupture of freely falling water drops of 4.3- and 5.6-mm diameter in high electric fields have been studied. In confirmation of observations by earlier workers, the drops became greatly distorted when a critical field was reached. With continued exposure to the field or increase in the magnitude of the field, filaments were drawn from the drops. Mass loss from the drops was measured and is given as a function of exposure time and magnitude of the electric field. For a given drop size the critical field was dependent on exposure time for exposures of less than 300 msec. Distortion of the drops in the field was measured, and confirmation was made for Taylor's criterion that drops became unstable when distorted in an electric field until their length is 1.9 times their equatorial diameter. The possible significance of the results to processes occurring in a thundercloud is considered.