Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

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,...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by

Same author

Paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration: successful early detection and treatment of cancer through characterization of the anti-Purkinje cell antibody.

Internal medicine (Tokyo, Japan)·1992

Same author

[Strategy for reducing fatigue in women workers].

Sangyo igaku. Japanese journal of industrial health·1992

Same author

Successful pancreatojejunal anastomosis for pancreatoduodenectomy.

Surgery, gynecology & obstetrics·1992

Same author

[Effect of unilateral hydronephrosis upon contralateral renal growth].

Nihon Hinyokika Gakkai zasshi. The japanese journal of urology·1992

Same author

Heterogeneity of immunohistochemical staining with pulmonary surfactant protein A among fractionated alveolar macrophages which involves metabolism of pulmonary surfactant.

Cellular and molecular biology (Noisy-le-Grand, France)·1992

Same author

[Emergency coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with severe pump failure complicating acute myocardial infarction].

[Zasshi] [Journal]. Nihon Kyobu Geka Gakkai·1992

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 25, 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

Development of revolving drop surface tensiometer.

S Mitani¹, K Sakai

¹Institute of Industrial Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.

The Review of Scientific Instruments

|February 4, 2012

Summary

A new revolving drop surface tensiometer uses centrifugal force to accurately measure liquid surface tension. This method distorts droplets, enabling precise measurements even with small liquid volumes.

Area of Science:

Physics
Materials Science
Physical Chemistry

Background:

Surface tension is a critical property of liquids, influencing various physical and chemical phenomena.
Traditional methods for surface tension measurement can be limited by sample volume or accuracy.

Purpose of the Study:

To introduce a novel revolving drop surface tensiometer for precise surface tension measurement.
To leverage centrifugal force for enhanced droplet deformation and accurate surface tension determination.

Main Methods:

A pendant drop method is adapted, utilizing centrifugal force to deform the liquid droplet.
The experimental setup allows for apparent accelerations up to 100 times that of gravity.
Surface tension measurements were demonstrated using ethylene glycol as the test liquid.

More Related Videos

Microtensiometer for Confocal Microscopy Visualization of Dynamic Interfaces

Microtensiometer for Confocal Microscopy Visualization of Dynamic Interfaces

Published on: September 9, 2022

Measurements of Soil Water Potential and Conductivity based on a Simple Evaporation Experiment using a Hydraulic Property Analyzer

Measurements of Soil Water Potential and Conductivity based on a Simple Evaporation Experiment using a Hydraulic Property Analyzer

Published on: August 9, 2024

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 25, 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

Microtensiometer for Confocal Microscopy Visualization of Dynamic Interfaces

Microtensiometer for Confocal Microscopy Visualization of Dynamic Interfaces

Published on: September 9, 2022

Measurements of Soil Water Potential and Conductivity based on a Simple Evaporation Experiment using a Hydraulic Property Analyzer

Measurements of Soil Water Potential and Conductivity based on a Simple Evaporation Experiment using a Hydraulic Property Analyzer

Published on: August 9, 2024

Main Results:

The revolving drop tensiometer successfully measured the surface tension of ethylene glycol.
Centrifugal force-induced droplet distortion significantly enhances measurement accuracy.
The method is effective for small liquid volumes.

Conclusions:

The proposed revolving drop surface tensiometer offers a highly accurate and efficient method for measuring surface tension.
This technique is particularly advantageous for applications requiring minimal sample volumes.
The device demonstrates broad applicability in fluid dynamics and materials science research.