Surface tension:
Surface tension is the property of a liquid by virtue of which its free surface behaves like a stretched membrane and supports, comparatively heavier objects placed over it. It is measured in terms of force of surface tension.
Force of surface tension: It is defined as the amount of force acting per unit length on either side of an imaginary line drawn over the liquid surface.
(a) T = Force/length = F/l
(b) T = Surface energy/Surface area = W/A
Units: S.I – Nm-1
C.G.S- dyn cm-1
Additional force
(a) For a cylindrical rod:- F = T×2πr (Here r is the radius of cylindrical rod)
(b) For a rectangular block:- F = T×2(l+d) (Here l is the length and d is the thickness of the rectangular block)
(c) For a ring:- F = T×2×2πr (Here r is the radius of cylindrical rod)
Surface energy: Potential energy per unit area of the surface is called surface energy.
(a) Expansion under isothermal condition: To do work against forces of surface tension:-
W= T × A (Here A is the total increase in surface area)
To supply energy for maintaining the temperature of the film:-
E = T + H
(b) Expansion under adiabatic conditions:
E = T
Force of surface tension is numerically equal to the surface energy under adiabatic conditions.
DROPS AND BUBBLES
(a) Drop: Area of surface film of a spherical drop of radius R is given by, A = 4πR2
(b) Bubble: The surface area of the surface films of a bubble of radius R is, A = 2×4πR2
Combination of n drops into one big drop
(a) R = n1/3r
(b) Ei = n (4πr2T), Ef =4πR2T
(c) Ef/ Ei = n -1/3
(d) ΔE/Ei = [1-(1/n1/3)]
(e) ΔE = 4πR2T (n1/3-1) = 4πR3T (1/r – 1/R)
Angle of contact: Angle of contact, for a pair of solid and liquid, is defined as the angle between tangent to the liquid surface drawn at the point of contact and the solid surface inside the liquid.
(a) When θ < 90º (acute):
Fa >Fc/√2
(i) Force of cohesion between two molecules of liquid is less than the force of adhesion between molecules of solid and liquid.
(ii) Liquid molecules will stick with the solid, thus making solid wet.
(iii) Such liquid is put in the solid tube; it will have meniscus concave upwards.
(b) When θ > 90º (obtuse):-Fa<Fc/√2
(i) Force of cohesion between two molecules of liquid is less than the force of adhesion between molecules of solid and liquid.
(ii) In this case, liquids do not wet the solids.
(iii) Such liquids when put in the solid tube will have a meniscus convex upwards.
(c) When θ = 90º:-?
Fa=Fc/√2
The surface of liquid at the point of contact is plane. In this case force of cohesion and adhesion are comparable to each other.
(d) cosθc = Tsa – Tsl/Tla
Here, Tsa,Tsl and Tla represent solid-air, solid-liquid and liquid-air surface tension respectively). Here θc is acute if Tsl < Tsawhile θc is obtuse if Tsl >Tsa.
Capillarity
Capillarity is the phenomenon, by virtue of which the level of liquid in a capillary tube is different from that outside it, is called capillarity.
Weight of liquid, W = Vρg = πr2[h+(r/3)]ρg (Here r is the radius meniscus)
If weight of meniscus is taken into account, the force of surface tension will be,
T = [r(h+(r/3)) ρg]/2 cosθ
For fine capillary, force of surface tension, T = rhρg/2 cosθ
So height, h = 2T cosθ/ rρg
This signifies, height of liquid risen (or depressed) in a capillary tube varies inversely as the radius of tube. Smaller the diameter of capillary tube, greater is the rise of liquid in it.
Tube of insufficient length
Rh = 2T/ρg
As, T, ρ and g are all constant, Rh = Constant
Smaller the value of h, greater will be the value of R. But liquid will never flow.
Effect of temperature affecting surface tension of liquids
Surface tension of a liquid decreases with an increase in its temperature.
Tθ = K (θc-θ)
Here Tθ is the surface tension at a particular temperature θ while θc is the critical temperature of the liquid and K is constant.
Effect of density
Density of liquid also affects its surface tension. Surface tension of a liquid is given by,
T = A (ρ - ρ')n
Here, ρ is the density of liquid, ρ' is the density of saturated vapors of liquid and A is the constant depending on the nature of liquid.
Pressure difference across a liquid surface
(a) Plane surface: There is no difference of pressure on the two sides of the film.
(b) Convex surface: Pressure below the surface film must be greater than that just above it.
(c) Concave surface: Pressure on the upper side is greater than that just below it.
General formula for excess pressure
Pexcess =T[1/R1 + 1/R2]
Forces between two plates with thin water film separating them:
(a) ΔP = T (1/r – 1/R)
(b) F = ΔT (1/r – 1/R)
(c) If separation between plate is d, then ΔP = 2T/d and F = 2AT/d
Radius of curvature of common film: Rcomon = rR/R-r
Capillary depression, h = 2T cos (π-θ)/rdg
Shape of liquid surface
(a) Plane surface (as for water – silver) if Fadhesive > Fcohesive/√2
(b) Concave surface (as for water – glass) if Fadhesive > Fcohesive/√2
(c) Convex surface (as for mercury-glass) if Fadhesive < Fcohesive/√2
Increase in temperature: Δθ = 3T/ρs (1/r – 1/R) or Δθ = 3T/ρsJ (1/r – 1/R)
1. What is the definition of a liquid at rest? |
2. How does the density of a liquid affect its behavior at rest? |
3. Can a liquid at rest exert pressure? If so, how is it calculated? |
4. What is the significance of the free surface in a liquid at rest? |
5. How does the shape of a liquid at rest change when placed in a container with a different shape? |
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