Experimental Confirmation of Predicted Rise Heights in a Surface Tension Configuration Introduced by Laplace

We develop numerical methods and experimental procedures to test theoretical predictions derived independently in Bhatnagar and Finn (The Laplace Parallel Plates Problem in Capillarity Theory. In adjoining issue, 2018) describing the rise height of fluid between two parallel plates immersed in a fluid bath. Our experimental methods use an electrowetting-on-dielectric configuration that enables precise electrical control of contact angle and provides a way to test the theory across a range of contact angles. We present detailed quantitative comparisons of numerical, theoretical, and experimental results, finding agreement among all methods.