Word for Rain Adhering Under the Eaves

Hello, you have A Way with Words. Hi, this is Bonnie Barnard and I’m calling from Jacksonville, Florida.

Hey, Bonnie, we’re glad to have you on the show. What’s on your mind today?

Well, I wanted to find out a word that I knew but have forgotten. I think it’s what I would call a scientific term. And it’s the action for when rain falls on a roof, for example, and then drips down over the fascia or whatever the front part is called. But instead of falling directly to the ground, it has a tendency to curve up. There’s some kind of suction or movement where the water.

Curves up underneath the E’s. And there’s a name for that. If I remembered, it starts with an S as in Sam.

And I have known about this and thought about it and haven’t forgotten it.

But several months ago, many months ago, it just flew out of my mind.

I lost it.

And now, because I’m curious about it, I want to know what that word is.

I think we can help you, but the two terms I’m thinking of don’t begin with an S.

So just in general principles, you’re talking about water adhesion, A-D-H-E-S-I-O-N.

The water is adhering to the surface, but that clinging or sticking is kind of a famous trait of water.

These intermolecular adhesive forces will do things like make the top of a glass of water bulge without spilling.

And also make them, as you say, crawl along the underside of a surface rather than fall straight down.

But there’s another term that is named after a Romanian aerodynamics pioneer who worked in jet propulsion in the 20th century.

And he described what is now given his name.

It’s called the Coanda effect.

And his name is C-O-A-N-D-A, Henri or Henri Coanda.

And this is the tendency not only of water to adhere, but to curve away from the initial flow direction.

Because of these adhesive properties, these adhesive forces.

So I don’t know if that was the term you were thinking of, the Quandah effect?

It is not.

Okay.

I think I may have to just call this guy.

Keeping in mind, this was decades ago.

Yeah, I mean, when you’ve got the curiosity yet, you’ve got to answer it.

I know, I know.

You’re not thinking of surface tension, are you?

Surface tension?

No.

No, okay.

Just checking.

No, it’s not that.

It’s not that.

The other great thing about this show is that we have lots and lots of very well-informed listeners who might come up with the word you need.

That would be interesting.

That would be interesting.

Stay tuned.

Thank you, Bonnie.

Take care.

Thanks for calling.

And thank you.

Bye-bye.

All right.

Bye-bye.

Bye-bye.

If you know what Bonnie’s talking about, text or call 877-929-9673, email words@waywordradio.org.