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Surface Tension

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 Fluid

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...

Surface Tension, Capillary Action, and Viscosity

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 Energy

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,...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 2, 2026

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

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

Published on: August 30, 2019

Appartus for high-resolution surface tension measurement.

J H Magerlein¹, T M Sanders

¹Department of Physics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104.

The Review of Scientific Instruments

|January 1, 1978

Summary

This study introduces a novel capacitive sensing apparatus to measure the surface tension of insulating liquids via capillary rise. The device achieves high resolution, making it ideal for automated detection of subtle surface tension changes, as demonstrated with liquid helium.

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Area of Science:

Physics
Materials Science

Background:

Surface tension is a critical property of liquids, influencing phenomena from everyday observations to industrial processes.
Accurate measurement of surface tension, especially for insulating liquids and small changes, presents significant technical challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop and present a novel apparatus for measuring the surface tension of insulating liquids.
To demonstrate the apparatus's capability for high-resolution and automated measurements.

Main Methods:

Utilizes capacitive sensing to detect capillary rise in insulating liquids.
Employs two guarded coaxial capacitors with differing gap widths.
A servosystem balances capillary rise in a narrow-gap capacitor with a DC voltage applied to a wide-gap capacitor.

Main Results:

Achieved a resolution of 1 part in 10^5 in surface tension measurements of liquid helium.
Demonstrated the technique's suitability for detecting minute variations in surface tension.

Conclusions:

The developed capacitive sensing apparatus offers a precise and sensitive method for surface tension measurement.
The technique is robust and well-suited for automated, high-resolution analysis of insulating liquids, including cryogenic fluids like liquid helium.