Subscribe now

Physics

Strange pentagon is the best shape for stirring two liquids together

The best way to mix together two liquids – like milk and coffee – is by moving two pentagonal stirrers in a jagged motion

By Karmela Padavic-Callaghan

2 August 2022

Two stirrers mix together two liquids

Two stirrers mix together two liquids

Maximilian Eggl, University of Mainz

You’ve been stirring your coffee all wrong. According to a series of simulations, not only should your stirring implement be shaped like a weird pentagon but you should use two of them and move them in a jagged half circle before letting vortices generated in the fluid do the rest.

Maximilian Eggl at University of Mainz Medical Center in Germany and Peter Schmid at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia used simulations and an algorithm to determine what shape is …

To continue reading, subscribe today with our introductory offers

View introductory offers

No commitment, cancel anytime*

Offer ends 14th June 2023.

*Cancel anytime within 14 days of payment to receive a refund on unserved issues.

Inclusive of applicable taxes (VAT)

or

Existing subscribers

Sign in to your account