Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 17, 2026

Extraction and Characterization of Surfactants from Atmospheric Aerosols
09:34

Extraction and Characterization of Surfactants from Atmospheric Aerosols

Published on: April 21, 2017

Direct determination of surface tension in the lung

S Schürch, J Goerke, J A Clements

    Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
    |December 1, 1976
    PubMed

    More Related Videos

    Accurate Determination of the Equilibrium Surface Tension Values with Area Perturbation Tests07:57

    Accurate Determination of the Equilibrium Surface Tension Values with Area Perturbation Tests

    Published on: August 30, 2019

    Microtensiometer for Confocal Microscopy Visualization of Dynamic Interfaces08:05

    Microtensiometer for Confocal Microscopy Visualization of Dynamic Interfaces

    Published on: September 9, 2022

    Related Concept Videos

    Surface Tension, Capillary Action, and Viscosity02:57

    Surface Tension, Capillary Action, and Viscosity

    Surface Tension
    The various IMFs between identical molecules of a substance are examples of cohesive forces. The molecules within a liquid are surrounded by other molecules and are attracted equally in all directions by the cohesive forces within the liquid. However, the molecules on the surface of a liquid are attracted only by about one-half as many molecules. Because of the unbalanced molecular attractions on the surface molecules, liquids contract to form a shape that minimizes the number...
    Surface Tension and Surface Energy01:16

    Surface Tension and Surface Energy

    When a paint brush is immersed in water, the bristles wave freely inside the water. When it is taken out, the bristles stick together. The reason behind this effect is surface tension.
    Consider a beaker filled with liquid. The bulk molecules in the liquid experience equal attractive forces on all sides with the surrounding molecules. However, the surface molecules experience a net attractive force downward due to the bulk molecules. The surface of the liquid behaves like a stretched membrane,...
    Pressure Relationships in Thoracic Cavity01:24

    Pressure Relationships in Thoracic Cavity

    Breathing, otherwise known as pulmonary ventilation, is the process of air movement into and out of the lungs. The main mechanisms propelling pulmonary ventilation are atmospheric pressure (Patm), intra-pulmonary (Ppul ) or intra-alveolar pressure (Palv) within the alveoli, and intrapleural pressure (Pip) within the pleural cavity.
    Breathing Mechanisms
    Both intra-alveolar and intrapleural pressures rely on specific lung properties. The ability to breathe—allowing air to enter the lungs during...
    Factors Affecting Pulmonary Ventilation01:19

    Factors Affecting Pulmonary Ventilation

    Besides the pressure difference between the external environment and the lungs, the airflow rate and ease of pulmonary ventilation are also influenced by three other factors: surface tension of the fluid in the alveoli, compliance of the lungs, and airway resistance.
    Alveolar Surface Tension
    The alveolar fluid lines the luminal surface of the alveoli and exerts a force called surface tension. This force is caused by the polar water molecules in the liquid being more strongly attracted to each...
    Surface Tension01:24

    Surface Tension

    Surface tension is defined as the force per unit length (γ) acting along the surface of a liquid. It arises due to strong intermolecular forces of attraction. A molecule located inside the bulk of the liquid is surrounded by other molecules and experiences equal forces in all directions. However, a molecule at the surface experiences unbalanced forces because there are more neighboring molecules below than above. This creates a net inward force that pulls surface molecules toward the interior,...
    Surface Tension of Fluid01:22

    Surface Tension of Fluid

    Surface tension is a fundamental property of fluids, occurring at the boundary between a liquid and a gas or between two immiscible liquids. This phenomenon arises from the cohesive forces between molecules at the fluid's surface, creating an effect similar to a stretched elastic membrane. Inside each fluid, molecules are equally attracted in all directions by neighboring molecules, but surface molecules experience a net inward force, resulting in surface tension.
    Surface tension varies with...