Surface Tension at Molecular Level
Due to the Cohesion force the water molecule tends to stick together. The water molecule at the bottom layer has various molecules above them to stick but the molecule at the top layer does not have various other molecules to cling together. Thus, they attach to each other with a larger force and resist any change in their structure.
The molecule inside the body of the liquid experiences the forces from all directions and thus, the net force cancels out each other, whereas the particle at the top layer experiences a strong inward force resulting in the surface tension of the water. Because of this water has one of the highest surface tension among liquids.
Surface Tension
Surface tension is the ability of fluid surfaces to contract into the smallest possible surface area. Have you ever found that even after filling a glass full of water, you can only add a few more drops before it spills? Have you ever lost a thermometer and watched how the mercury reacts as it falls? All of which are caused by the surface tension of the surface. Its isolated surface behaves like a strong rubber membrane due to the suppressive force in the fluid molecules. As a result, the individual surface of the fluid is still in a state of stress and tends to have the smallest field. Thus, Surface Tension refers to the tension on the fluid’s individual surface.
Table of Content
- What is Surface Tension?
- Cohesion and Surface Tension
- Surface Tension at Molecular Level
- Formula for Surface Tension
- Unit of Surface Tension
- Dimension of Surface Tension
- What Causes Surface Tension?
- What is the Unit of Surface Tension?
- How to Calculate Surface Tension?
- Methods of Measurement
- What is Surface Energy?
- What is Angle of Contact?
- Examples of Surface Tension
- Factors affecting Surface Tension
- Solved Example on Surface Tension
Let’s discuss more surface tension in detail in this article.