Glass particles having radii between approximately 4.0 and 100 mu m were deposited onto a highly compliant polyurethane substrate (Young’s modulus approximately 4.5 x 10(4) Pa). The resulting adhesion induced contact radii and heights of the menisci were measured using scanning electron microscopy. It was found that the contact radius varied as the particle radius to the 3/4 power. This is inconsistent with the 2/3 power law dependence predicted by adhesion theories which assume elastic deformations, such as that proposed in the JKR model (Johnson, K. L.; Kendall, K.; Roberts, A. D. Proc. R. Sec. London, A 1971, 324, 301) or the 1/2 power law dependence predicted by plastic deformation theories such as that advanced by Maugis and Pollock (Maugis D.; Pollock, H. M. Acta Metall. 1984, 32, 1323). These results are consistent with previous contact radius measurements made using smaller particles on a more rigid elastomeric substrate (Rimai, D. S.; DeMejo, L. P.; Bowen, R. C. J. Appl. Phys. 1989, 66, 3574. DeMejo, L. P.; Rimai, D. S.; Bowen, R. C. J. Adhesion Sci. Technol. 1991, 5, 959). The thermodynamic work of adhesion between the glass particles and polyurethane substrate was estimated to be 0.044 J/m(2) and the experimentally determined heights of the menisci are consistent with the predictions of the JKR model.