Consider two hollow glass spheres: one containing water which fills about 10% of its volume, and the other containing a similar volume of mercury. In the zero gravity environment of the space shuttle:

Engineering

Physics

Surface Tension and Surface Energy

Capillary and Pressure Difference due to Surface Tension

Forces and Types of Forces

Question

Consider two hollow glass spheres: one containing water which fills about 10% of its volume, and the other containing a similar volume of mercury. In the zero gravity environment of the space shuttle:

The water and mercury both form a thin layer on the glass

The mercury forms a thin layer on the glass while the water floats

The water forms a thin layer on the glass while the mercury floats

The water and mercury float freely inside the spheres

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In zero gravity, liquid behavior depends on surface tension and adhesion. Water has high adhesion to glass (wetting), so it spreads into a thin layer coating the inner surface. Mercury has very low adhesion (non-wetting) and high cohesion, so it forms a floating sphere due to surface tension minimizing its surface area.

Thus: $Water \to thin layer, Mercury \to floating sphere$

Final answer: The water forms a thin layer on the glass while the mercury floats.