What is Surface Energy?
Surface energy measures the breakdown of intermolecular bonds caused by the formation of a surface. Surface-free energy and interfacial-free energy are other names for it. Surface energy is defined as the work done per unit area by the force that forms the new surface.
The image given below shows the surface of the water molecules.
When the free surface area of a liquid is increased, effort must be done against the force of surface tension. This work is stored as potential energy on the liquid surface. This increased potential energy per unit area of the free surface of the liquid is referred to as surface energy.
Mathematically, the surface energy is defined as:
Surface energy = Surface tension × Change in the surface area
or
ES = T × ΔA
where T denotes surface tension and ΔA denotes an increase in surface area.
Therefore, the SI unit of surface energy is Nm-2 and the dimensional formula is [MT– 2].
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.