Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.
Definition: Surface Tension |
Surface TensionNoun1. A phenomenon at the surface of a liquid caused by intermolecular forces. Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved. |
| Domain | Definition |
Hydrologic | The attraction of molecules to each other on a liquid's surface. Thus, a barrier is created between the air and the liquid. (references) |
Mining | A. In the flotation process, the contractile force at the surface of a liquid whereby resistance is offered to rupture. b. Interfacial tension between two phases, one of which is a gas c. A condition that exists at the free surface of a body (such as a liquid) by reason of intermolecular forces unsymmetrically disposed about the individual surface molecules and is manifested by properties resembling those of an elastic skin under tension. Specif., the force per unit length of any straight line on the surface that the surface layers on opposite sides of the line exert upon each other.See also:surface activity. (references) |
Physics | A phenomenon peculiar to the surface of liquids, in which the surface molecules seem to have a greater cohesion for one another than do the molecules in the body of the liquid, so that surface acts like a stretched elastic film. Source: European Union. (references) |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)
In physics, surface tension is a force within the surface layer of a liquid that causes the layer to behave as an elastic sheet. It is the force that supports insects that walk on water, for example.
Surface tension is caused by the attraction between the molecules of the liquid. In the bulk of the liquid each molecule is pulled equally in all directions by neighbouring molecules, resulting in a net force of zero. At the surface of the liquid, the molecules are pulled inwards by other molecules deeper inside the liquid, but there are no liquid molecules on the outside to balance these forces, so the surface molecules are subject to a net inward force. There may be a small outward attraction caused by air molecules, but air is much less dense than the liquid, so this force is negligible.
Surface tension is measured in newton per metre (Nm-1), is represented by the symbol γ and is defined as the force along a line of unit length perpendicular to the surface.
Dimensional analysis shows that the units of surface tension (Nm-1) are equivalent to joules per square metre (Jm-2). This means that surface tension can also be considered as surface energy. If a surface with surface tension γ is expanded by a unit area, then the increase in the surface's stored energy is also equal to γ.
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Surface tension."
Crosswords: Surface Tension |
| English words defined with "surface tension": capillarity, capillary action ♦ interfacial, interfacial surface tension, interfacial tension ♦ surface-active, surface-active agent, surfactant ♦ tensiometer ♦ wetter, wetting agent. (references) |
| Specialty definitions using "surface tension": AIRCRAFT BODY REPAIRER, apparent cohesion ♦ bathotonic reagent ♦ Capillary Fringe ♦ dust wetting agent ♦ frother ♦ Gibbs adsorption theorem ♦ Langmuir trough ♦ McNally-Carpenter centrifuge ♦ Pulmonary Surfactants ♦ salt-crust process, Silicone Oils, skin flotation, stalagmometer, surface active agent, surface energy ♦ tensio-active ♦ Wettability, wetting effect, Wood process. (references) |
| Domain | Title |
Books | |
Music |
|
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| Thumbnail | Description & Credit | Thumbnail | Description & Credit |
 | By applying the adherent properties associated with the surface tension of water, these specialized hairs hold the larva parallel to the water's surface in a characteristic horizontal position. Credit: CDC. |  | Figure 45. Pettersson small chain hydrometer, designed by Professors Otto and Hans Pettersson in 1917. This instrument eliminated difficulties associated with the surface tension of the sample as well as variations of volume. A small metal chain helped achieve a balance by compensating for the buoyancy of the float as a function of the density of the liquid. Credit: Sailing for Science - the NOAA Fleet Then and Now. |
Source: pictures compiled by the editor from various references; see picture credits. | |||
| Subject | Topic | Quote |
Health | In this condition, the baby's lungs do not have enough surfactant, a substance that makes it possible for air to pass into the alveoli by lowering surface tension and preventing their collapse. (references) | |
The causes of RDS are complex, but it is believed that the major problem is a poorly developed lung. Surfactant, a unique fatcontaining protein necessary to reduce the surface tension in the alveoli of the lung to prevent their collapse, is deficient in RDS babies. (references) | ||
Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits. | ||
Expression using "surface tension": interfacial surface tension. Additional references. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. |
| The following statistics estimate the number of searches per day across the major English-language search engines as identified by various trade publications. Hyperlinks lead to commercial use of the expression at Amazon.com. |
| Language | Translations for "surface tension"; alternative meanings/domain in parentheses. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Danish | overfladespaending, overfladespænding. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dutch | oppervlaktespanning, grensvlakspanning (interfacial tension). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Finnish | pintajännitys. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
French | tension superficielle, constante capillaire. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
German | Oberflaechenspannung, Oberflächenspannung. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Greek | επιφανειακή τάση. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hungarian | felületi feszültség (surface stress). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Italian | tensione superficiale. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Japanese Kanji | 表面張力 . (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Japanese Katakana | ひょうめ"ちょうりょく. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Manx | chionnid eaghtyragh. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pig Latin | urfacesay ensiontay tensão superficial. (various references) поверхностный натяжение. (various references) tensión superficial. (various references) ytspänning. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Misspellings | |
"Surface Tension" is suggested in spellcheckers for the following: surface tention, surface tevsion. (additional references) | |
| Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references). | |
Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams | |
| Words within the letters "a-c-e-e-f-i-n-n-o-r-s-s-t-u" | |
-3 letters: auctioneers, enunciators, franticness, renunciates, transfusion, transiences. | |
-4 letters: ancestries, antecessor, auctioneer, cannisters, centauries, centurions, cofeatures, confitures, consenters, constrains, containers, continuers, courtesans, courtesies, craftiness, crenations, encounters, enunciates, enunciator, firestones, fornicates, furcations, insurances, interfaces, interfuses, interocean, nectarines, ornateness, recensions, refections, refinances, renunciate, resections, resistance, resonances, secretions, suctorians, sustenance, tensioners, transience, transsonic, unfairness, unsafeties. | |
-5 letters: acuteness, ancestors. | |
| Words containing the letters "a-c-e-e-f-i-n-n-o-r-s-s-t-u" | |
+3 letters: superfecundations. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro. | |
| 1. Definition 2. Crosswords 3. Usage: Commercial 4. Images: Photo Album | 5. Quotations: Non-fiction 6. Expressions 7. Expressions: Internet 8. Translations: Modern | 9. Derivations 10. Anagrams 11. Bibliography |
Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.
