Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 25, 2026

Accurate Determination of the Equilibrium Surface Tension Values with Area Perturbation Tests
Published on: August 30, 2019
Lower bounds for the surface energy of two-dimensional foams
P I C Teixeira1, F Graner, M A Fortes
1Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Estrada de Talaíde, P-2635-631 Rio de Mouro, Portugal. paulo@ist.utl.pt
Abstract:
Amongst the two-dimensional cellular patterns that fill a plane, dry foams at stable equilibrium typify a particular subset for which the total perimeter P of cell boundaries ( i.e., films between bubbles) has a local minimum. For a given set of bubble areas Ai (i=1,..., N), P can be written in the form P=R(SigmaN(i=1) square root Ai)/2, where R is topology dependent. We seek the set of areas Ai and the cluster topology that minimise R, and propose lower bounds for R that set lower bounds for the surface energy of i) individual bubbles, with circular edges meeting at 2pi/3 angles at vertices (Plateau cells), and ii) infinite periodic bubble clusters.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Surface Tension and Surface Energy
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,...
Surface Tension of Fluid
Surface tension varies with...
Surface Tension, Capillary Action, and Viscosity
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
Excess Pressure Inside a Drop and a Bubble
Surface Active Agents

