12

Surface Tension
Surface tension is the property of any liquid by virtue of which it
tries to minimise its free surface area.
Surface tension of a liquid is measured as the force acting per unit
length on an imaginary line drawn tangentially on the free surface of
the liquid.
Force F Work done
Surface tension, S = = =
Length l Change in area
Its SI unit is Nm -1 or Jm -2 and its dimensional formula is [MT -2 ].
It is a scalar quantity. Surface tension is a molecular phenomenon
which is due to cohesive force.
Surface tension of a liquid depends only on the nature of liquid and is
independent of the surface area of film or length of the line considered.
Small liquid drops are spherical due to the property of surface tension.

Adhesive Force
The force of attraction acting between the molecules of different
substances is called adhesive force, e.g. the force of attraction acting
between the molecules of paper and ink, water and glass etc.

Cohesive Force
The force of attraction acting between the molecules of same substance
is called cohesive force, e.g. the force of attraction acting between the
molecules of water, glass, etc.
Cohesive forces and adhesive forces are van der Waals’ forces.
These forces vary inversely as the eighth power of distance between
the molecules.
 Surface Tension 111
Force of Surface Tension on Different Shape
Shape Figure Force of Surface tension
1. Thin ring of radius r F F = 2p (r + r) × S + W
= 4p r × S + W
O r

2. Circular plate or disc of radius r F = 2pr × S + W

3. Square frame of side a F F = 8a × S + W

4. Square plate of side a F F = 4aS + W

5. Hollow disc of inner radius r1 F F = 2 p (r1 + r2 ) × S + W

and outer radius r2

6. Wire of length l F F = 2× l× S + W

Molecular Range
The maximum distance upto which a molecule can exert a force of
attraction on other molecules is called molecular range.
Molecular range is different for different substances.
In solids and liquids, it is of the order of 10-9 m.
If the distance between the molecules is greater than 10-9 m, the force
of attraction between them is negligible.

Factors Affecting Surface Tension

(i) Surface tension of a liquid decreases with increase in
temperature and becomes zero at critical temperature.
(ii) At boiling point, surface tension of a liquid becomes zero and
becomes maximum at freezing point.
(iii) Surface tension decreases when partially soluble impurities
such as soap, detergent, dettol, phenol etc are added in water.
(iv) Surface tension increases when highly soluble impurities such
as salt is added in water.
112 Handbook of Physics

(v) When dust particles or oil spreads over the surface of water, its
surface tension decreases.
When charge is given to a soap bubble, its size increases because
surface tension of the liquid decreases due to electrification.
In weightlessness condition, liquid does not rise in a capillary tube.

Surface Energy
If we increase the free surface area of a liquid, then work has to be
done against the force of surface tension. This work done is stored in
liquid surface as potential energy.
This additional potential energy per unit area of free surface of liquid
is called surface energy.
Surface energy ( E ) = S ´ DA
where, S = surface tension and DA = increase in surface area.
(i) Work Done in Blowing a Liquid Drop If a liquid drop is
blown up from a radius r1 to r2, then work done for that is
W = S × 4p(r22 - r12 )
(ii) Work Done in Blowing a Soap Bubble As a soap bubble
has two free surfaces, hence work done in blowing a soap bubble
so as to increase its radius from r1 to r2 is given by
W = S × 8p(r22 - r12 )
(iii) Work Done in Splitting a Bigger Drop into n Smaller
Droplets
If a liquid drop of radius R is split up into n smaller droplets, all of
same size, then radius of each droplet
r = R × ( n )-1/ 3
Work done, W = 4pS ( nr 2 - R 2 ) = 4pSR 2 ( n1/ 3 - 1)
(iv) Coalescance of Drops If n small liquid drops of radius r each
combine together so as to form a single bigger drop of radius
R = n1/ 3× r, then in the process energy is released. Release of
energy is given by DU = S × 4p( nr 2 - R 2 ) = 4pSr 2n (1 - n - 1/ 3 )

Excess Pressure due to Surface Tension

2S
(i) Excess pressure inside a liquid drop =
R
2S
(ii) Excess pressure inside an air bubble in a liquid =
R
 Surface Tension 113
4S
(iii) Excess pressure inside a soap bubble =
R
where, S = surface tension and R = radius of drop/bubble.

Excess Pressure in Different Cases

Nature of Surface Excess Pressure
1. Plane surface Dp = 0
Dp

2. Convex surface of radius R 2S

Dp =
R

Dp

3. Concave surface of radius R 2S

Dp =
R

4. Cylindrical liquid surface of radius R S

Dp =
R R

5. Liquid surface of unequal radii é1 1ù

Dp = S ê + ú
R
ë 1 R2û
Dp

6. Liquid film of unequal radii é1 1ù

Dp = 2 S ê + ú
R
ë 1 R2û

Dp

l Work done in spraying a liquid drop of radius R into n droplets of

radius r = S ´ Increase in surface area
æ1 1 ö
= 4pSR3 ç - ÷
èr Rø
114 Handbook of Physics

3S æ 1 1 ö
Fall in temperature, Dq = ç - ÷
J èr Rø
where, J = 4.2 J/cal.
l When n small drops are combined into a bigger drop, then work
done is given by
W = 4pR 2S ( n1/ 3 - 1)
Temperature increase,
3S æ1 1 ö
Dq = ç - ÷
J èr Rø
l When two bubbles of radii r1 and r2 coalesce into a bubble of
radius r isothermally, then
r 2 = r12 + r22
l When two soap bubbles of radii r1 and r2 are in contact with each
other, then radius r of common interface

r2
O r1 O¢

Common interface
1 1 1 r1r2
= - or r =
r r1 r2 r2 - r1

Formation of a Single Bubble

l If two bubbles of radius r1 and r2 coalesce isothermally to form a
single bubble of radius r under external pressure p0, then surface
tension of the liquid
p [r3 - r13 - r23 ]
S= 0 2
4 [r1 + r22 - r 2 ]
l Pressure inside bubbles are
æ 4S ö æ 4S ö æ 4S ö
p1 = çç p0 + ÷÷, p2 = çç p0 + ÷÷, p3 = ç p0 + ÷
è r1 ø è r2 ø è r ø
Also, p1V1 + p2V 2 = p3V3
 Surface Tension 115
where, p1 , V1 are pressure and volume of first bubble,
p2 , V 2 are pressure and volume of second bubble
and p3 , V3 are pressure and volume of new bubble.

Angle of Contact
The angle subtended between the tangents drawn at liquid surface and
at solid surface inside the liquid at the point of contact is called angle
of contact ( q ).
If liquid molecules is in contact with solid (i.e. wall of capillary tube),
then forces acting on liquid molecules are
(i) Force of cohesion Fc (acts at an angle 45° to the vertical)
(ii) Force of adhesion Fa (acts outwards at right angle to the wall of
the tube)

Glass

Water

Angle of contact depends upon the nature of the liquid and solid in
contact and the medium which exists above the free surface of the
liquid.
When wax is coated on a glass capillary tube, it becomes water-proof.
The angle of contact increases and becomes obtuse. Water does not rise
in it. Rather it falls in the tube by virtue of obtuse angle of contact.
l If q is acute angle, i.e. q < 90 °, then liquid meniscus will be concave upwards.
l If q is 90°, then liquid meniscus will be plane.
l If q is obtuse, i.e. q > 90 °, then liquid meniscus will be convex upwards.
l If angle of contact is acute angle, i.e. q < 90 °, then liquid will wet the solid
surface.
l If angle of contact is obtuse angle, i.e. q > 90 °, then liquid will not wet the solid
surface.

Angle of contact increases with increase in temperature of liquid.

Angle of contact decreases on adding soluble impurity to a liquid.
Angle of contact for pure water and glass is zero.
For ordinary water and glass, it is 8°.
For mercury and glass, it is 138°.
116 Handbook of Physics

For pure water and silver, it is 90°.

For alcohol and clean glass q = 0°.

Angle of Contact, Meniscus and Shape of liquid surface

Angle of Contact Angle of Contact Angle of Contact
Property
< 90 ° = 90 ° > 90 °
Substances Water and glass Water and silver Mercury and glass
Angle of contact Almost zero, acute Right angle = 90° Obtuse angle = 138°
angle
Meniscus shape Concave Plane Convex
Capillary action Liquid rises No effect Liquid falls
Sticking to solid Stick/wets Does not wet Does not wet
Relation between F F F
Fa > c Fa = c Fa < c
cohesive force (Fc) 2 2 2
and adhesive force Fa > Fc Fc > Fa
(Fa )
Shape of liquid Almost round Spreads on surface Flat on interface
surface

Capillarity
The phenomenon of rise or fall of liquid column in a capillary tube is
called capillarity.
Ascent of a liquid column in a capillary tube is given by
2 S cos q r
h= -
r rg 3
If capillary is very narrow, then
2 S cos q
h=
rrg
where, r = radius of capillary tube, r = density of the liquid,
q = angle of contact and S = surface tension of liquid.
l If q < 90°, cos q is positive, so h is positive, i.e. liquid rises in a
capillary tube.
l If q > 90°, cos q is negative, so h is negative, i.e. liquid falls in a
capillary tube.
l Rise of liquid in a capillary tube does not violate law of
conservation of energy.
 Surface Tension 117
Some Practical Examples of Capillarity
(i) The kerosene oil in a lantern and the melted wax in a candle,
rise in the capillaries formed in the cotton wick and burns.
(ii) Coffee powder is easily soluble in water because water
immediately wets the fine granules of coffee by the action of
capillarity.
(iii) The water given to the fields rises in the innumerable
capillaries formed in the stems of plants and trees and reaches
the leaves.

Zurin’s Law
If a capillary tube of insufficient length is placed vertically in a liquid,
then liquid never come out from the tube on its own, as
Rh = constant Þ R1h1 = R2h2
where, R = radius of curvature of liquid meniscus
and h = height of liquid column.
When a tube is kept in inclined position in a liquid and the vertical
height h remains unchanged, then length of liquid column

a
h I

h h
cos a = or l =
l cos a
Liquid rises (water in glass capillary) or falls (mercury in glass
capillary) due to property of surface tension
Rrgh
S=
2 cos q
where, R = radius of capillary tube, h = height of liquid,
r = density of liquid, q = angle of contact,
S = surface tension of liquid and g = acceleration due to
gravity.
118 Handbook of Physics

Some Phenomena Based on Surface Tension

(i) Medicines used for washing wounds, as dettol, have a surface
tension lower than water.
(ii) Hot soup is more tasteful than the cold one because the surface
tension of the hot soup is less than that of the cold and so it
spreads over a larger area of the tongue.
(iii) Insects and mosquitoes swim on the surface of water in ponds
and lakes due to surface tension. If kerosene oil is sprayed on
the water surface, the surface tension of water is lowered and
the insects and mosquitoes sink in water and are dead.
(iv) If we deform a liquid drop by pushing it slightly, then due to
surface tension it again becomes spherical.
(v) The detergents are used for cleaning the dirty clothes. The
molecule of detergent can attached with water and dirt
molecules and they take away the dirt with them, when we
wash the clothes with detergent.