A Low-Cost Teapot Effect Experiment for Introductory Physics

Abstract

The teapot effect refers to the tendency of a poured liquid to cling to the lip of a container and run down the outside. It is a familiar but physically rich example of flow separation. We present a low-cost experiment for introductory physics laboratories that uses 3D-printed cups, a simple flow regulator, and basic surface treatments to explore this phenomenon in a classroom setting. Students measure the run-off length along the outer wall as an accessible indicator of sticking versus separation and use it to compare the effects of flow velocity and surface wettability. Rather than attempting a full quantitative test of research-level models, the activity is designed to illustrate the inertial-capillary picture of the teapot effect in a form that is experimentally straightforward and pedagogically effective. The experiment connects a familiar everyday observation to fluid inertia, wetting, and interfacial forces in a form that is well suited to introductory instruction.