what is surface tension?

Answer 1

surface tension is a force that causes the surface of a liquid to act like a streched elastic material. it is aided by cohesion between the liquid particles as well as adhesion between the liquid particles and the walls of the container

Answer 2

Define Surface Tension In Chemistry

Answer 3

On amicroscopic scale,surface tension may be explained as follows:-

Consider a liquid contained in a beaker.let us call the uppermost layer of the liquid the surface film.Now if we consider any molecule in the bulk of the liquid..it is attracted equally from all sides by water molecules .But,in the surface film the molecules are attracted not only by the water molecules,but also by air molecules above them.Hence,there is a strain on the liquid surface due to unequal force of attraction.

Another convenient explanation is that to move a molecule into the surface film..some work has to be done against its weight and other forces(viscous drag etc.)This work is stored as Potential energy..so the molecules of the surface film have more potential energy.Now,the natural tendency of any system is to attain equilibrium by minimising its potential energy.To do so,the surface film contracts so that less water molecules can be accomodated thereby reducing the potential energy.

This property of the surface film of a liquid by virtue of which it behaves like a stretched membrane and contracts its surface area is called surface tension.

Answer 4

An easy way of putting it is that Surface tension is friction.
For example a car on the road, there is surface tension when the car moves, as the car tyres is on contact with the road. So when the tyres move it will rub against the road surface, and therefore there is surface tension, and as it will slowing the car down, we can call it friction.

Answer 5

Surface tension enables the top layer to behave like an elastic sheet. Certain insects are actually able to walk on water because of this.

An example of surface tension would be the surface of water. Water is comprised of two atoms of hydrogen and one atom of oxygen. Oxygen is an electronegative element so it produces a slightly negative charge that can attract other water molecules to it. Because of this, water has both adhesive and cohesive properties, meaning that it sticks to other things and also to itself.

If you place several drops of water onto a penny, it will be awhile before it spills over. This is because of the circular shape of the penny and also because of the surface tension.

Another way to think about it is that a molecule in contact with a neighbor is in a lower state of energy than if it weren't in contact with a neighbor. The interior molecules all have as many neighbors as they can possibly have. But the boundary molecules have fewer neighbors than interior molecules and are therefore in a higher state of energy. This extra energy enables the surface tension to exist.

The smaller number of neighboring molecules at the surface enable the surface molecules to move around SLIGHTLY less. This creates just enough stability to have surface tension.

Answer 6

surface tension is that property of liquids owing to which they tend to acquire minimum surface area.
it is defined *** the force acting normallyon unit length of an imaginary line drawn in the surfaceof liquid .surface tension force is perpendicularto line but parallel to the surface.
if 'f' force acting on length 'l' then surface tension 'T'=f\l

Answer 7

In physics, surface tension is an effect within the surface layer of a liquid that causes that layer to behave as an elastic sheet. This effect allows insects (such as the water strider) to walk on water. It allows small metal objects such as needles, razor blades, or foil fragments to float on the surface of water, and causes capillary action. Interface tension is the name of the same effect when it takes place between two liquids.

The cause of surface tension-

Diagram of the forces on a molecule of liquid.Surface tension is caused by the attraction between the molecules of the liquid by various intermolecular forces. In the bulk of the liquid each molecule is pulled equally in all directions by neighboring liquid molecules, resulting in a net force of zero. At the surface of the liquid, the molecules are pulled inwards by other molecules deeper inside the liquid but they are not attracted as intensely by the molecules in the neighbouring medium (be it vacuum, air or another liquid). Therefore all of the molecules at the surface are subject to an inward force of molecular attraction which can be balanced only by the resistance of the liquid to compression. Thus the liquid squeezes itself together until it has the locally lowest surface area possible.

Another way to think about it is that a molecule in contact with a neighbor is in a lower state of energy than if it weren't in contact with a neighbor. The interior molecules all have as many neighbors as they can possibly have. But the boundary molecules have fewer neighbors than interior molecules and are therefore in a higher state of energy. For the liquid to minimize its energy state, it must minimize its number of boundary molecules and therefore minimize its surface area.

As a result of this minimizing of surface area, the surface will want to assume the smoothest flattest shape it can (rigorous proof that "smooth" shapes minimize surface area relies on use of the Euler-Lagrange Equation). Since any curvature in the surface shape results in higher area, a higher energy will also result. Consequently, the surface will push back on the disturbing object in much the same way a ball pushed uphill will push back to minimize its gravitational energy..

Answer 8

It is the force acting per unit length to the imaginary line drawn to the surface of the liquid T=force /length

Answer 9

It is property of a liquid due to which its surface behaves as a stretched membrane.

Answer 10

IT IS THE PROPERTY OF LIQUIDS.
IT CAN BE DEFINED AS THE FORCE PER UNIT LENGTH
ON A LINE DRAWN ON THE LIQUID SURFACE.