Taormina, Michael James2006-07-072006-07-072006-07-07https://hdl.handle.net/1794/301551 p. A THESIS Presented to the Department of Physics and the Clark Honors College of the University of Oregon in partial fulfillment of the requirements for degree of Bachelor of Arts, Spring 2006.A print copy of this title is available through the UO Libraries under the call number: SCA Archiv Storage Taormina 2006A “Leidenfrost ratchet” is a device which facilitates a newly-discovered phenomenon, where drops of liquid accelerate across a heated substrate. The system has been qualitatively studied and a vapor flow model has been suggested to account for this observed behavior. This paper provides a study of general behavior, considerations needed to apply and test a vapor flow model for the ratchet system, and submits the model to an experimental trial. The results show the quantitative validity of a vapor flow model, while exposing subtle qualitative inconsistencies for the behavior of water and ethanol droplets. Content of the study can be used as a starting point for more detailed analysis of the system, possibly leading to novel scientific and industrial applications.3229555 bytesapplication/pdfen-USLiquidsRatchetThermal-gradientsMotionThesis