Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Surface Tension, Capillary Action, and Viscosity02:57

Surface Tension, Capillary Action, and Viscosity

28.6K
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...
28.6K
Surface Tension and Surface Energy01:16

Surface Tension and Surface Energy

3.2K
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,...
3.2K
Contact Angle01:13

Contact Angle

27.7K
When a solid is dipped inside a liquid, the liquid surface becomes curved near the contact. For some solid–liquid interfaces, the liquid is pulled up along the solid, while for others, the liquid surface is convex or depressed near the solid surface. This phenomenon can be explained using the concept of cohesive and adhesive forces.
The adhesive force is the molecular force between molecules of different materials, that is, between the molecules of the solid and the liquid. The cohesive...
27.7K
Gestalt Principles of Perception01:21

Gestalt Principles of Perception

1.8K
Gestalt principles provide a framework for understanding how humans perceive objects as unified wholes within their context. These principles are essential in explaining the cognitive processes that make sense of complex visual stimuli by organizing them into coherent groups. One fundamental principle is proximity, which posits that objects located close to each other are perceived as a collective group. For instance, when dots are positioned near one another, the visual system interprets them...
1.8K
Surface Tension of Fluid01:22

Surface Tension of Fluid

1.9K
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...
1.9K
Control Volume and System Representations01:16

Control Volume and System Representations

1.4K
Two key frameworks are employed to analyze mass, energy, and momentum transfer: the control volume approach and the system approach. These frameworks offer different perspectives, depending on whether the focus is on a specific region in space (control volume approach) or a defined mass of fluid (system approach).
The control volume approach considers a stationary region in space through which fluid flows. This region is bounded by a control surface.  For instance, in the case of water...
1.4K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Hexagons to Ribbons: Flipping Cyanide on Au{111}.

Journal of the American Chemical Society·2016
Same author

Orbital-Symmetry-Dependent Electron Transfer through Molecules Assembled on Metal Substrates.

The journal of physical chemistry letters·2015
Same author

Stimuli responsive release of metalic nanoparticles on semiconductor substrates.

Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids·2012
Same author

X-ray spectroscopy characterization of self-assembled monolayers of nitrile-substituted oligo(phenylene ethynylene)s with variable chain length.

Beilstein journal of nanotechnology·2012
Same author

Issues and challenges in vapor-deposited top metal contacts for molecule-based electronic devices.

Topics in current chemistry·2011
Same author

Robust, functionalizable, nanometer-thick poly(acrylic acid) films spontaneously assembled on oxidized aluminum substrates: structures and chemical properties.

Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids·2011
Same journal

Daily briefing: 'Cyborg' cockroaches breathe underwater with printed suit.

Nature·2026
Same journal

China boosts prestigious grants for young scientists - will it ease competition?

Nature·2026
Same journal

Incoming US science academy chief vows to 'double down' on research.

Nature·2026
Same journal

Author Correction: Synthesis of enantioenriched atropisomers by biocatalytic deracemization.

Nature·2026
Same journal

Electrodeposited self-assembled molecules for perovskite photovoltaics.

Nature·2026
Same journal

Neutrino's nursery found: the 'Shadow Blaster'.

Nature·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 2, 2026

Rendering SiO2/Si Surfaces Omniphobic by Carving Gas-Entrapping Microtextures Comprising Reentrant and Doubly Reentrant Cavities or Pillars
08:02

Rendering SiO2/Si Surfaces Omniphobic by Carving Gas-Entrapping Microtextures Comprising Reentrant and Doubly Reentrant Cavities or Pillars

Published on: February 11, 2020

8.5K

A perspective on surfaces and interfaces.

David L Allara1

  • 1Department of Polymer Science and Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University, 206 Chemistry Building, University Park, Pennsylvani, USA. dla3@psu.edu

Nature
|September 30, 2005
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Surfaces and interfaces are crucial in technology and biology. Advanced characterization tools now support interdisciplinary research and manufacturing.

More Related Videos

Microtensiometer for Confocal Microscopy Visualization of Dynamic Interfaces
08:05

Microtensiometer for Confocal Microscopy Visualization of Dynamic Interfaces

Published on: September 9, 2022

2.2K
Light-induced Patterning and Grafting for Slippery Surfaces based on Silane-coated Nanoporous Structures
07:23

Light-induced Patterning and Grafting for Slippery Surfaces based on Silane-coated Nanoporous Structures

Published on: November 14, 2025

609

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 2, 2026

Rendering SiO2/Si Surfaces Omniphobic by Carving Gas-Entrapping Microtextures Comprising Reentrant and Doubly Reentrant Cavities or Pillars
08:02

Rendering SiO2/Si Surfaces Omniphobic by Carving Gas-Entrapping Microtextures Comprising Reentrant and Doubly Reentrant Cavities or Pillars

Published on: February 11, 2020

8.5K
Microtensiometer for Confocal Microscopy Visualization of Dynamic Interfaces
08:05

Microtensiometer for Confocal Microscopy Visualization of Dynamic Interfaces

Published on: September 9, 2022

2.2K
Light-induced Patterning and Grafting for Slippery Surfaces based on Silane-coated Nanoporous Structures
07:23

Light-induced Patterning and Grafting for Slippery Surfaces based on Silane-coated Nanoporous Structures

Published on: November 14, 2025

609

Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Surface Science
  • Interface Science

Background:

  • Surfaces and interfaces play a critical role in diverse fields, from digital hardware to biological processes.
  • The significance of these areas necessitates robust methods for their study.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the evolution and importance of surface and interface characterization techniques.
  • To underscore the role of these techniques in advancing scientific research and manufacturing.

Main Methods:

  • Review of characterization tool development over the past 50 years.
  • Discussion of the interdisciplinary application of these tools.

Main Results:

  • A comprehensive toolkit for surface and interface characterization has been established.
  • These tools are widely adopted by an interdisciplinary scientific community.

Conclusions:

  • The developed characterization toolkit provides a powerful platform for scientific discovery.
  • It significantly contributes to innovation in both research and manufacturing technology.