Maths student uncovers the secrets of chocolate fountain physics

A student from University College London has discovered what causes chocolate’s behavior in a chocolate fountain. The results, published in the European Journal of Physics, explain why the ‘curtain’ of chocolate pulls inwards rather than falling straight down.

He compared the fountain with the movement of ‘water bells’ which have the same physics. Both the ‘bells’ and ‘curtain’ are primarily caused by surface tension.