Question

What is surface tension?

Answer 1

Surface tension is the tendency of the fluid surfaces to shrink into the minimum surface area possible. The surface tension can be determined by the difference of the interactions between the molecules of the fluid with the molecules of the flask or beaker or the molecules of the storage wall.

Complete step by step solution:
The tendency of the fluid surfaces to shrink into the minimum surface area possible is referred to as the surface tension of the fluid. Generally, we can define the surface tension as the phenomenon that arises when the surface of a liquid is in contact with another phase. Liquids tend to occupy the least surface area possible. The surface of the liquid acts like the elastic material, so it shrinks in the least area. Surface tension is the physical property of the liquids, in which the molecules of the liquid are drawn into each and every side. The intermolecular forces between the liquid and the molecules of the container wall such as Van der Waals force, draw the liquid particles together. Throughout the surface, the particles are attracted to the rest of the liquid.

Some examples of the surface tension are, the needle is floating on the surface of the water, the water droplets on the surface of the leaf looks like small bubbles for some time, round bubbles where the surface tension of water provides the wall tension for the formation of the water bubbles and the raindrop is circular due to surface tension. These are all the real time examples of the surface tension.

Note: Surface tension has the major contribution to the branch of physics. Many concepts, derivations, formulas have come up through this phenomenon. Surface tension plays an important role in understanding the properties of liquids, viscosity, and fluidity of the substance.