Oscillation of a water surface in contact with a fixed camphor disk

The oscillatory motion of a water surface in contact with a fixed camphor disk was investigated. A periodic change in the contact length of the upheld water was synchronized with the changes in the force working on the disk. The period of the oscillation changed depending on the surface tension and the surface area of the water phase. The mechanism of oscillation is discussed in relation to the kinetics of the camphor molecular layer on the water surface and the change in the driving force working on the contact line due to the surface tension and the Marangoni flow. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.