What is Surface Tension?

Surface tension is a property of liquids that arises due to the cohesive forces between the molecules at the surface of the liquid. It is defined as the force acting perpendicular to the surface of a liquid, per unit length along the surface. In simpler terms, it is the measure of the tendency of a liquid to minimize its surface area and is often described as the “contractive” nature of the surface of a liquid.

Surface Tension Definition

Surface tension is a property of liquids that arises from the cohesive forces between molecules at the interface of the liquid and a gas, such as air.

In simpler terms, surface tension is the measure of the tendency of a liquid to minimize its surface area and form into the shape that has the least surface area.

Formula for Surface Tension(T)

Formula for surface tension (T) is given by:

T = F/L

In the above formula,

• T is Surface Tension
• F represents the force acting perpendicular to the surface of the liquid
• L represents the length along which the force is acting.

Dimensional Formula of Surface Tension is M¹T^-2. As we know, surface tension is the property of liquids that influences various phenomena, from the shape of raindrops to the behavior of small insects on water surfaces. Mathematically it is defined as, the force per unit length acting in the plane of the liquid surface and perpendicular to a line drawn on the surface.

In this article, we will provide a brief overview of surface tension and discuss its dimensions, including the derivation of the dimensional formula using the surface tension formula.