Final answer:
The volume of a water droplet under varying surface gravity will appear to change as gravity influences the drop's compactness due to the balance of forces. Increased gravity makes droplets smaller, while decreased gravity allows for larger droplets, but the volume of water remains constant as water is nearly incompressible.
Step-by-step explanation:
The volume of a water droplet under varying surface gravity is influenced by the hydrostatic pressure, which is directly related to gravitational force. At standard temperature and pressure (STP), if gravity increases, the water droplet will be more compact as a result of the increased force, leading to a smaller droplet. Conversely, if gravity decreases, the water droplet will be less compact, resulting in a larger droplet. However, it is important to note that this is a conceptual description, as gravity doesn't directly change the volume of a liquid like water, but rather the forces and pressures involved in forming the droplet.
Robert Boyle's discovery showing that volume and pressure are inversely proportional (Boyle's Law) applies to gases, not liquids, yet it sets the groundwork for understanding fluid dynamics. The behavior of water in altered gravitational fields is less about compressibility (as water is nearly incompressible) and more about the balance of forces shaping the droplet. In reduced gravity, such as aboard the International Space Station, water forms spherical droplets due to surface tension becoming the dominant force over the weakened gravitational pull.