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I had read some where that the water in glasses has a high surface tension, but in lota (It is sort of a spherical container) the surface tension is lower.

  • How can I measure the water surface tension difference between container types?
  • If I take the water from a glass and I put it into a lota, over what period of time will the surface tension of the water change?

This is a lota: nearly-spherical brass vessel

I have heard that we drink should have less surface tension, but this is not centric to the science of my question. My thanks for your help.

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  • $\begingroup$ The surface tension does not depend on the container. It is a property of the water/air interface. Can you post a link for the claim that surface tension is lower in a burbot. I tried Googling but all I found were articles about the fish burbot. $\endgroup$
    – John Rennie
    Commented Apr 8, 2014 at 7:28
  • $\begingroup$ @JohnRennie Sorry for that it is not burbot $\endgroup$
    – Daksh Shah
    Commented Apr 8, 2014 at 8:02
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    $\begingroup$ A quick Google found claims that the lota reduces surface tension because it has a small opening. This isn't reducing surface tension, it's reducing surface energy. The surface tension is constant, which means that the greater the area of the air/water interface the greater the total surface energy. Having said this, if the lota is half full there will be a larger air/water interface area and therefore greater surface energy. $\endgroup$
    – John Rennie
    Commented Apr 8, 2014 at 8:11
  • $\begingroup$ Can you link your source? $\endgroup$
    – evil999man
    Commented Apr 8, 2014 at 8:32
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    $\begingroup$ Also, whether or not it is healthier for you is probably more about biology than physics $\endgroup$
    – Jim
    Commented Apr 8, 2014 at 16:22

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Surface tension of a liquid may change when something is mixed with it. For e.g. the substances like soaps, detergents, etc decrease the surface tension of water. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surfactant for more information.

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  • $\begingroup$ Don't you think that it is absurd? $\endgroup$
    – evil999man
    Commented Apr 8, 2014 at 10:37
  • $\begingroup$ what is absurd? $\endgroup$
    – Shubham
    Commented Apr 8, 2014 at 10:42
  • $\begingroup$ Lota increases surface tension and hence decreases impurities? Does that make any sense? $\endgroup$
    – evil999man
    Commented Apr 8, 2014 at 10:44
  • $\begingroup$ No, not at all! Unless the metal absorbs any impurities. Does copper(or is it brass) exhibit any such effect? $\endgroup$
    – Shubham
    Commented Apr 8, 2014 at 10:50
  • $\begingroup$ I am not a chem expert but I can say it is not related to surface tension. It may just be an extra result in our experiment which is not related to our aim $\endgroup$
    – evil999man
    Commented Apr 8, 2014 at 10:52

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