Particle behaviour in shear and electric fields II. Rigid rods and spherical doublets

Abstract
The rotation and orientation of rigid conducting rods suspended in a dielectric liquid in combined shear and electric fields were studied. Excellent agreement with predictions based on a theoretical analysis of this problem by Demetriades was obtained. The approach of rigid conducting spheres in an electric field due to electrostatic attractive forces was studied and found to be in accord with theory. Collisions of rigid conducting spheres in shear and electric fields were also investigated. It was found that in m any cases, permanent doublets could be formed as a result of particle adhesion. The technique affords a sensitive method of measuring adhesion forces.