Steve Thackery wrote:

Roderick Stewart wrote:

The ratio of surface area to volume does indeed depend on shape, so
making anything that has to dissolve in liquid a different shape could
make it dissolve faster.

Indeed. The smallest possible ratio being that of a sphere.

Also, the ratio reduces as the volume increases.

The story goes that, during WW2 they were developing underwater
mines and wanted something that would dissolve at a predictable
rate. Turns out a toroid is good for a more constant ratio of
volume to surface area. Polo mints turned out to be just the
thing.

To protect the mints from water until deployed, condoms were most
suitable.

Apparently those charged with quietly procuring substantial
supplies of the materials got a bit of a reputation at the local
shops.

Chris
--
Chris J Dixon Nottingham UK


Have dancing shoes, will ceilidh.

On 07/01/2012 10:40, Chris J Dixon wrote:
The story goes that, during WW2 they were developing underwater
mines and wanted something that would dissolve at a predictable
rate. Turns out a toroid is good for a more constant ratio of
volume to surface area. Polo mints turned out to be just the
thing.

To protect the mints from water until deployed, condoms were most
suitable.

Apparently those charged with quietly procuring substantial
supplies of the materials got a bit of a reputation at the local
shops.

I was told by Someone Who Was There (no names, no pack drill) that
condoms were used to protect guns from salt spray off Korea.

Of course a Navy keeps a supply of them for issue to those with shore
leave, so supply was not a problem.

Andy