The force that controls the shape of a liquid. Surface tension results from the force of a cohesion between liquid molecules.

the ratio of the surface force to the length along which it acts

Property of liquidus created by molecular forces existing in the surface film. It tends to contract the volume into a form with the least surface area. Breakdown of surface tension can be accomplished by addition of certain chemical agents, resulting in the liquid flowing out and wetting surrounding material surfaces. One of the functions of flux in the soldering process is to breakdown surface tension of solder, thereby causing solder to wet metal surfaces to be jointed. Surface tension is higher in nitrogen than in air.

Energy required to expand the surface of liquid by unit area (N.m-1 or J.m-2). Liquids tend to reduce their surface area due to unequal intermolecular attractive forces in this region. Syn. Interfacial tension

an inward force that tends to minimize the surface area of a liquid due to unbalanced forces on the surface particles; it causes the surface to behave is if it were covered by a thin skin.

The natural tendency of the surface of water (and other liquids) to behave like an elastic sheet. It is caused by forces acting between the water molecules: the molecules at the surface are much more strongly attracted to each other, and to the molecules below them, than they are to the molecules of air above them.

Due to surface molecular forces, a drop of liquid tends to form an apparent membrane that causes it to ball up rather than to spread as a film.

Fluid Mechanics. The stretching force required to form a liquid film; equal to the surface energy of the liquid per unit length of the film at equilibrium; the force tends to minimize the area of a surface.

the tendency of liquid molecules to attract each other -they form a curved surface first rather than spilling or breaking apart Back to Bubbles

the resistance of a liquid to an increase in its surface area

The energy required to expand a liquid surface by one unit area. Liquids reduce their surface area to bring intermolecular attractive forces into equilibrium. A low degree of surface tension is preferred for liquid coatings to maximize minimize wetting and spreading and minimize edge-pull and fish-eye effects.

the tendency of liquids to maintain as small a surface as possible. It is caused by the cohesive attraction between the molecules of liquid.

Energy per unit area. A force resulting from inter-molecular forces that is responsible for bubbles forming (as a consequence of being energetically favorable), water drops hanging from faucets and a meniscus forming when a column of water rises in glass tubes. It causes a reduction in the ratio of surface area to volume of a geometrical object - to a minimum in the absence of other competing effects. Note: A sphere is the shape that a 3d object must have in order to have the smallest possible surface area for a given fixed volume. As a consequence of having the smallest surface area it also has the smallest energy associated with the surface (as Surface energy = surface tension * surface area).

An inward tension acting to make a surface as small as possible. It appears when a surface has extra potential energy.

a phenomenon at the surface of a liquid caused by intermolecular forces

That property, due to molecular forces, that exists in the surface film of all liquids and tends to prevent the liquid from spreading.

Force that acts on a surface per unit of length of the perpendicular surface to the force. The superficial tension is an intermolecular force that tends to minimize the liquid superficial area.

The attraction among water molecules at the surface of a liquid; creates a skinlike barrier between air and underlying water molecules.

The contractile surface force of a liquid by which it tends to assume a spherical form and to present the least possible surface. It is expressed in dyne/cm or ergs/cm.

the tendency of molecules of a liquid to stick together at the surface, as occurs with water due to its polarity and hydrogen bonding; a special case of cohesion

A fluid in contact with a surface exhibits phenomena, due to molecular attractions, which appears to arise from a tension in the surface of the fluid. It may be expressed as dynes per centimeter or as ergs per square centimeter.

The contracting force on the skin of a liquid. Acts like a rubber balloon on a liquid droplet for example, and will exert a force to form a three dimensional shape of the smallest energy, e.g. a sphere.

a property of’ liquids in which the exposed surface tends to contract to the smallest possible area, as in the formation of a meniscus. It is caused by unequal molecular cohesive forces near the surface.

the force that acts on the surfaces of liquids causing them to "bead up" minimizing contact with solid surfaces.

A condition in which the water surface meets the air and acts like an elastic skin.

The elastic-like force at the surface of a liquid, tending to minimize the surface area and causing drops to form. Expressed as Newtons per meter or dynes per centimeter; there are 1,000,000 dynes per Newton.

The amount of energy required to expand the surface of a liquid; (to break through it for example). Water has a high surface tension.

The property of liquids where forces between the molecules near the surface leads to the apparent presence of a film.

That property of liquids which tends to contract the exposed surface of the smallest possible area; i.e. cohesion between like molecules.

The attraction between the molecules of a liquid which causes a liquid to form round droplets. thus, high surface tension tends to pull a liquid into a ball and works against spreading of a film on the surface. A reduction of this force in water by a detergent allows the fluid to flow out and wet and penetrate a surface. For fuel oils, a reduction allows for better contact with air for better combustion.

Property of a liquid, related to its chemical structure, that causes its exposed surface to contract to the smallest area.

The attractive forces which liquid molecules have for each other.

The work required to expand the surface of a liquid by unit area.

The inherent molecular attraction in liquids that causes them to diminish their surface area and thereby exhibit properties resembling those of a stretched elastic membrane.

The property, due to molecular forces, by which all liquids through contraction of the surface, tend to bring the contained volume into a form having the least area. If an ink is to be compatible with a substrate, the surface tension of the ink must approximate that of the substrate. Refer LM & IM.

the attraction of molecules to each other on a liquid's surface. Thus, a barrier is created between the air and the liquid.

the elasticity of the surface of a substance (particularly a fluid), which tends to reduce the surface area.

That property, due to molecular forces, by which the surface film of all liquids tends to bring the con-tained volume into a form having the least superfi-cial area.

The energy required to expand the surface of liquid by unit area. Liquids tend to reduce their surface area due to unequal intermolecular attractive forces in this region. A low degree of surface tension is preferred for liquid coatings to maximize adhesion and minimize edge-pull and fish-eye effects.

The attractive force exerted on surface molecules of a liquid by the molecules beneath. This results in the drawing of the surface molecules of the liquid into the shape that yields the least surface area. This term also means the modifying of one phase in contact with another.

a value equal to the force needed to increase the free surface of a liquid divided by the actual increase in the surface area itself ". TexGuard and ProtectGuard change the surface tension of the base material being treated.

the property in virtue of which a liquid behaves like a stretched elastic membrane, clinging to the sides of a container

The forces of cohesion at the surface of a liquid which encourage the tendency of a liquid to reduce its exposed surface to the minimum area. Molecules within a liquid are attracted equally from all sides, but those near the surface experience unequal attractions and are thus drawn towards the center of the liquid mass by this net force.

The property of a coating which makes it tend to shrink when applied.

The tendency of water to behave is if it is covered by a semi-rigid film.

The behavior on the surface of a liquid dependent on the intermolecular forces that creates a condition similar to an elastic skin.

The property of a liquid which causes the surface to pull into the smallest area for a maximum volume, hence, drops are spherical. The fact that water drops on a wax surface do not spread out due to surface tension. If a wetting agent were to be added to the water the round droplet would spread out into a film because of the lowered surface tension.

The tendency of a liquid to form a relatively tough "skin" or film on its surface.

The cohesive force exerted at the surface of a liquid that makes it tend to assume a spherical shape. Surface tension is related to the interactive forces between molecules of a liquid, and is caused by the fact that molecules at the surface are not surrounded by molecules on all sides and consequently they interact more strongly with those directly adjacent to them on the surface.

The result of attraction between molecules of a liquid which causes the surface of the liquid to act as a thin elastic film under tension. Surface tension causes water to form spherical drops, and to reduce penetration into fabrics. Soaps, detergents and wetting agents reduce surface tension and increase penetration by water.

Limiting surface tension between a fluid and a gas, usually air.

In physics, surface tension is an effect within the surface layer of a liquid that causes that layer to behave as an elastic sheet. This effect allows insects (such as the water strider) to walk on water, allows small metal objects such as needles, razor blades, or foil fragments to float on the surface of water, and causes capillary action. Interface tension is the name of the same effect when it takes place between two liquids.