Surface tension occurs due to the tendency of liquid molecules to favor their own kind. Surface tension is important in fluid multiphase systems typically at small length and velocity

learn more… | top users | synonyms (1)

1
vote
2answers
91 views

Amount of material required for a pressure tank

I read the answer for the question Why is a hot air balloon “stiff”? and thought something sounded ridiculous. My engineering requirement is that the walls be strong enough. Here $T$ will be the ...
0
votes
1answer
64 views

Lower state of energy for 'connected' molecules

Quote from Wikipedia: Another way to view surface tension is in terms of energy. A molecule in contact with a neighbor is in a lower state of energy than if it were alone (not in contact with a ...
1
vote
1answer
246 views

Causes of surface tension between two fluids

Suppose that we have two fluids $A$ and $B$ in a container $\Omega$, and we notice that $A,B$ do not mix. Can you pleas explain to me what is the cause of this property? What properties of the two ...
3
votes
1answer
631 views

Cooking pasta: why does adding a lid lead to overflow?

When cooking pasta, some organic foam usually forms on the surface of the boiling water and the situation can be kept under control by adjusting the heat (and/or adding some oil). Covering the pot ...
2
votes
2answers
295 views

Does the potential energy of fluid rising on a string change?

Lets say I have a glass of water at rest. Then I go and hang a string above the water (vertically), such as the end of the string is immersed in the water. Over time some of the water is going to ...
3
votes
2answers
181 views

At what size will self-gravitation contribute more to stability than surface tension?

The governments of Earth have embarked on an experiment to place a massive ball of water in orbit. (umm... special water that doesn't freeze) Imagine this to be a fluid with a given density, $\rho$ ...
2
votes
2answers
623 views

Bubble formation

I know that surface tension plays a key role in the formation of a bubble. I guess a bubble contains air inside it. Now how is it so that a soap bubble contains air both inside it and outside it? ...
5
votes
1answer
129 views

Dropping condition

Imagine opening a water tap in order to have a smooth and cylindrical outflow and then slowly decrease the flow by adjusting the knob. At a certain moment, the side profile of the flow will become ...
9
votes
2answers
2k views

Are there any liquids with zero surface tension?

Having read the Wikipedia page on superfluids I'm still not sure if stuff like liquid helium at the lambda point actually have surface tension or not. Is superfluidity the same thing? And are there ...

1 2