Testing the Effect of Hydrophilic and Hydrophobic Coatings on the Speed of a Ball through Water

TL;DR

This study compares how hydrophilic and hydrophobic coatings affect the speed of a ball moving through water, showing hydrophobic coatings increase speed by reducing water friction.

Contribution

It provides experimental data demonstrating the impact of different water-repelling coatings on object movement speed in water.

Findings

Hydrophobic coatings increase ball speed in water.

Hydrophilic coatings slow down the ball compared to hydrophobic.

Uncoated balls have the slowest speed.

Abstract

Data is presented that confirms that hydrophobic coatings reduce friction between objects and water. The results show that the average time it took for the ball with the hydrophobic coating traveled at an average of about 6 inches per second. The ball with the hydrophilic coating traveled at a slower pace, moving at an average of about 5 inches per second and the ball without a coating traveled at an average of about 4.8 inches per second.