Flotation involves staying on the surface of a liquid or gas.
Flotation is the action and effect of floating (holding on the surface of a liquid or gas , waving, being in the environment influencing the mood). The term is used to name the action of the body of the person who is swimming.
For example: “My son is learning to swim but he still has trouble floating,” “Two hours of uninterrupted floating caused me cramps in my legs,” “Floating without great effort is the first step to becoming a good swimmer.” .
floating in water
You need to master flotation to achieve autonomy in the water . Among the factors that affect flotation are natural characteristics of the person (such as adipose tissue or the air found in the lungs when inhaling) and the environment (atmospheric pressure, water density, etc.)
It is possible to distinguish between static flotation (when achieved without performing any body movement) or dynamic flotation (which involves displacement or lack of movement but with the application of certain forces ).
When a body is immersed in a fluid, either completely or partially, part of it is displaced. If we consider the pressure that the latter exerts on the body, it follows that the pressure forces produce a new one, which points upward and which tends to partially neutralize gravity (it should be noted that both forces are vertical but point in opposite directions). ). This vertical force is known as thrust or buoyancy force and it is possible to demonstrate that its magnitude corresponds to the weight of the liquid being displaced.
In economics, the float is the oscillation of a currency according to its price.
A physicochemical process
Flotation is also the physicochemical process that allows mineral species to be separated from the selective adhesion of particles to air bubbles, and takes place in three well-defined stages: solid, liquid and gas. This process is based on two fundamental principles, which are set out below:
- The natural rejection of water (hydrophobicity) of the mineral, which causes solid particles to adhere to air bubbles.
- Foam that forms stably above the water surface, helping particles stay there.
These principles are established through the use of certain chemical flotation reagents, which are introduced into the system and collaborate with the induction and inhibition of the hydrophobicity of the particles and, in turn, make the foam that is formed more stable; These reagents are called depressants, modifiers, activators and collectors.
Unlike hydrophobic particles, which adhere to air bubbles because they do not feel an affinity for water, hydrophilic particles (among which gangue are found) repel the gas phase since they are attracted to the liquid phase.
Regarding its application in industry , the flotation process is especially used to recover copper sulphide minerals , which occurs due to its natural degree of hydrophobicity. On the other hand, it also serves to extract the remains of fat and oil from the water , so that it can be reused. To meet these objectives, specific equipment has been designed, such as columns and flotation cells, although the former are more common since they entail a lower operating cost.
Floating in the economy
In the economy , floating is the oscillation of a currency whose price changes according to market movements, since there is no exchange rate set by the State .
The maximum or minimum limits to which the exchange rate fluctuation of the currency can be subjected without the intervention of the Central Bank are known as the floating band .