Chapter – 10
Mechanical Properties of
Fluids
Fluid:
A fluid is something which can
flow. Liquids and gases are fluids.
Thrust
The normal force acting on a
surface is called thrust.
Fluid Pressure
Pressure is defined as the normal
force acting per unit area of a
surface. Or pressure is the thrust per
unit area.
F A1
P=
A
It is a scalar quantity. It is SI unit is
Nm-2 or Pa. Its dimension is ML-1 T-2
Pascal’s Law
Pascal’s law states that the
pressure applied at any point on a
continuous fluid in equilibrium is
equally transmitted to all other
points.
Hydraulic Machines [Applications
of Pascal’s law]
A number of devices such as
hydraulic lift, hydraulic jack and
hydraulic brakes are based on
Pascal’s law. In these devices fluids
are used for transmitting pressure.
SAJU K JOHN, M.Sc. Physics, NET, Doctoral Research Fellow at NIT Calicut
Hydraulic Lift
In a hydraulic lift two pistons are
separated by the space filled with a
liquid. A piston of small area of cross
section is used to exert force directly
on the liquid.
Let ‘F1’ be the force exerted on the
first position of area of cross section
F1
‘A1’. Then pressure, P= .
According to Pascal’s law this
pressure is transmitted throughout the
liquid. Then the upward force on the
second piston,
F1 A 
F2  P  A 2   A 2  F1  2 
A1  A1 
Thus the applied force has been
A2
increased by a factor of A 1 . This
factor is the mechanical advantage of
the device. To get a large force on the
second piston ‘A1’ should be small
and ‘A2’ should be large.
Pr1: In a car lift, compressed air
exerts a force F1 on a piston having a
radius of 5.0 cm. This pressure is
transmitted to a second piston of
radius 15 cm. If the mass of the car to
be lifted is 1350 kg, calculate F1.
1
What is the pressure necessary to
accomplish this task? g=9.8m/s-2.
Soln:
Pressure – Depth Relation
Consider a cylindrical element of
fluid having base area ‘A’ and height
‘h’. As the fluid is at rest, the resultant
of horizontal forces should be zero.
And the resultant vertical forces should
balance the weight of the element. The
forces acting in the vertical direction
are due to the pressure at the top P1A
acting in the in the downward
direction and at the bottom P2A acting
upward. If mg is the weight of the
fluid inside the cylinder, then
SAJU K JOHN, M.Sc. Physics, NET, Doctoral Research Fellow at NIT Calicut
P2 A  P1A  mg
(P2  P1 )A  mg,
But m = V = (Ah)
 (P2 -P1 )A=Ahg
 P2  P1  hg
If the top of the fluid element
considered is open to the
atmosphere, then P1  Pa
and let P2  P. Substituting,
P  Pa  hg Pa  Atmospheric pressure
The term hg is called gauge pressure
and P is called the absolute pressure.
Pr.2: What is the pressure on a
swimmer 10m below the surface of a
lake? Atmospheric pressure is
1.01×105Pa.
Ans:
Pr. 3: At a depth of 1000m in an
Ocean (a) what is the absolute
pressure?
(b) What is the gauge pressure?
(c) Find the force acting on the
window of area 20cm x 20cm of a
submarine at this depth, the interior of
which is maintained at the sea level
atmospheric pressure. The density of
sea water is 1.03 x 103 kgm-3, g=10
ms-2.
Solution:
2

Atmospheric Pressure
The pressure of the atmosphere at
any point is equal to the weight of a
column of air of unit cross sectional
area.
At sea level, the atmospheric
pressure is 1.013×105 Pa.
It is maximum on the surface and it
decreases with altitude.
Measurement of Pressure:
Instruments used to measure
pressure are called Manometers.
Barometer is a device used to
measure atmospheric pressure.
SAJU K JOHN, M.Sc. Physics, NET, Doctoral Research Fellow at NIT Calicut
Open Tube Manometer
An open tube manometer is an
instrument to measure pressure
differences.
It consists of a U-tube containing
suitable liquid. A low density liquid
such as oil is used to measure small
pressure differences and a high
density liquid such as mercury is
used to measure large pressure
differences.
Pr essure at A = Pressure at B
 P  Pa  hg
P  Pa  hg
By measuring h, we can calculate the
pressure difference P-Pa.
Barometer
Barometer was first designed by the
Italian scientist Evangelista
Torricelli. Mercury is filled in a
narrow glass tube and is inverted into
a trough of mercury. Mercury
remains in the tube up to a height of
76cm above the reservoir level at the
sea level.
3

Consider two points A and B at
the surface level of mercury in the
reservoir one (A) outside the tube and
other (B) inside. Since the pressure at
the same horizontal level is the same,
PA  PB
Pa  P  h  g
The space above the mercury column
inside the tube contains mercury
vapour whose pressure P is so small
that it may be neglected.
 Pa  hg
where '' is the density of mercury
and 'h' is the height of mercury column.
Note: -
(1) At sea level the mercury barometer
give h=76cm.
 Pa  hg
= 0.76  13.6  103  9.8
 1.013  105 Pa .
Units of Pressure
The SI unit of pressure is pascal [Pa]
SAJU K JOHN, M.Sc. Physics, NET, Doctoral Research Fellow at NIT Calicut
A common unit of pressure is the
atmosphere [atm]
1atm= 1.013 ×105 Pa
Another unit of pressure is torr
( named after Torricelli).
1 torr is the pressure equivalent of
1mm of Hg.
P  hg
1 torr = 110-3 13.6 103  9.8
= 133 Pa
The mm of Hg and torr are used in
medicine and physiology. In
meteorology, a common unit is bar
and millibar.
1bar= 105Pa.
Question1: What happens if a hole is
drilled at the top of a barometer tube?
Ans:- When a hole is drilled at the top
of a barometer tube, mercury in it
directly comes in contact with the
atmosphere. Since the pressure
difference between the mercury in the
tube and in the reservoir become zero,
the level falls down in the tube.
Question2: How does the presence of
moisture affect the reading of the
barometer?
Ans: - Moist air is less dense than dry
air. Hence the presence of moisture
decreases the atmospheric pressure.
Decrease of pressure shows a fall in
the height of the mercury column in
the barometer, which indicates
coming of rain and storm.
Question3: Why mercury is used in
barometer?
4
Ans: Mercury is used in the barometer
because of the following reasons.
 It has a shining surface.
 High Density (So we can reduce the
height of the tube)
 Does not wet glass.
Question4: a) If a student places
barometer in a lift, falling under
gravity, how the barometer reading
will change?
b) If the same barometer is placed
in a lift that is ascending with
acceleration ‘a’ how the barometer
reading will change?
Ans:
Stream Line Flow
The study of fluids in motion is
called fluid dynamics.
The flow of the fluid is said to be
steady, if at any point the velocity of
each passing fluid particle remains
constant in time.
But the velocities at different points
may differ.
SAJU K JOHN, M.Sc. Physics, NET, Doctoral Research Fellow at NIT Calicut
The path taken by a fluid particle
under a steady flow is called a
streamline. It is defined as a curve
whose tangent at any point is in the
direction of the fluid velocity at that
point. A bundle of stream line is
called tube of flow.
Two stream lines will never intersect.
Because, If they intersect, there will
be two velocities at the point of inter
section which is not possible for a
stream line low.
Equation of Continuity
Consider the stream line flow of an
incompressible fluid through a pipe of
varying cross sections. Let A1, A2 and
A3 are the area of cross sections of the
pipe and v1, v2, and v3 are the
velocities at these cross sectional
areas. Let the density of the fluid be ρ.
The volume of the fluid crossing the
area A1 at P in t seconds V1=A1 v1 t
Similarly the volume crossing areas
A2 and A3 at Rand Q are V2=A2v2 t
and V3=A3v3 t
The mass of the fluid crossing the area
A1 is M1=V1ρ
=A1v1 t ρ
Similarly for A2 and A3,
M2= A2 V2 t ρ and M3= A3 V3 t ρ
Since the fluid is incompressible,
5
M1 =M2=M3 (conservation of mass)
ie., A 1 v1 t  A 2 v 2 t  A 3 v 3 t Turbulent Flow
 A 1 v1  A 2 v 2  A 3 v 3 When the speed of flow
increases beyond a limiting value,
ie., Av  cons tan t
called critical speed, the flow loses its
1 steadiness and becomes turbulent.
or v 
A
Raynolds Number
i.e., at narrower portions of the pipe
the velocity increases and vice versa. Raynolds number is a
dimensionless number which gives us
The equation A1v1=A2v2=A3v3 is the idea that whether the flow is
called equation of continuity.
streamline or turbulent.
Av is the flow rate or volume of fluid
passing in one second. It is also called Raynolds number,
volume flux.
 vd
Note: - Equation of continuity is a
Re 

statement of conservation of mass, in
  density of the fluid
the flow of incompressible fluid.
V  velocity of the fluid
Pr.4: A garden hose having an d  stands for dim ension of the pipe
internal diameter of 2 cm is connected   coefficient of viscosity
to a lawn sprinkler that consists of an
If Reynolds number is lessthan1000,
enclosure with 12 holes, each 0.2 cm
the flow is streamline or laminar, if Re
in diameter. If the water in the hose
is greater than 2000 the flow is
has a speed 1.2 m/s at what speed
turbulent. The flow becomes unsteady
does it leave the sprinkler holes?
for Re between1000 and 2000.
Ans:

Bernoulli’s Principle

SAJU K JOHN, M.Sc. Physics, NET, Doctoral Research Fellow at NIT Calicut 6
Bernoulli’s theorem is a statement of
conservation of energy, which states
that the available energy per unit
volume remains constant for a tube of
flow.
Since the same volume ΔV passes
through both the regions (from the
equation of continuity) the work done
by the fluid at the other end (DE) is
W2 = F2. S2

= (P2 A2) .(v2 Δ t )

= P2 ΔV

So the net work done on the fluid,

ΔW = W1 - W2 = P1 ΔV - P2 ΔV

= (P1 - P2) ΔV ----- (1)

According to work – energy theorem

Consider a fluid moving in a pipe of a part of this work is used to change
variable area of cross section. Let the the potential energy and the other part
pipe be at different heights as shown is used to change the kinetic energy.
in figure. Suppose an incompressible
ΔW = ΔKE + ΔPE ----------------- (2)
fluid is flowing through the pipe in a
steady flow. Its velocity must change Change in KE,
because of variable cross sectional
area, and according to equation of 1 1
K  m v 2 2  m v 12
continuity. A force is required to 2 2
1
produce this acceleration, which is  m ( v 2 2  v 12 )
caused by the fluid surrounding it; the 2
1
pressure must be different at different   V  ( v 2 2  v 12 )   (3)
2
regions. Bernoulli’s theorem is a
Change in PE,
general relation which connects the
pressure difference between two  P E  m gh 2  m gh1
points in a pipe to both changes in KE
 m g(h 2  h1)
and change in PE.
  V g (h 2  h1 )  (4)
Consider the flow at the two regions Substituting eqns (1), (3), (4) in
BC and DE. In a very small interval of eqns(2) we get
time Δ t, the fluid at B moves to C at
the same time fluid at D moves to E.

The work done on the fluid at the

left end BC is W1 = F1 .S1

= (P1 A1 ).(v1 Δ t) = P 1 ΔV

SAJU K JOHN, M.Sc. Physics, NET, Doctoral Research Fellow at NIT Calicut 7
 1
(P1  P2 )V  V(v22  v12 )  Vg(h 2  h1)
2
Dividing by V,
1 1
P1  P2  v22  v12 gh2 gh1
2 2
Case 2: - Fluid at rest
1 1
 P1  v12 gh1  P2  v22  gh2
2 2 v= 0,  K E = 0
1  P+  gh  C ons tan t
 P  v2 gh  Const an t  (5)
2  P1 +  gh 1  P2 +  gh 2
This is Bernoulli’s equation. P1 - P2 =  gh 2   gh 1
P1 - P2 =  g (h 2  h 1 )
P  P r e ssu re e n e rg y p e r
Let h 2  h 1  h
u n it v o lu m e
1  P1 - P2 =  g h
 v 2  K E p er u n it vo lu m e
2
This is the expression for
 g h  P E p er u n it vo lu m e
hydrostatic pressure.
Statement: -

Bernoulli’s theorem states that Pr5: Water flowing with a speed of

“For a steady flow of an
incompressible fluid through a
pipe, the sum of pressure energy
per unit volume, KE per unit
volume and PE per unit volume is
a constant.”
Special cases: -
Case 1: - Flow through a horizontal
pipe
If the pipe is horizontal h1=h2
5m/s on a pipe of cross-sectional area
4 cm2. The water gradually descends
10m as the pipe increases in area to 8
cm2.
a) What is the speed of flow at the
low level?
b) If the pressure at the upper
level is 1.5x 10 5 Pa, what is the
pressure at the low level?
Ans:

 PE = 0
B e r n o u l li 's e q n b e c o m e s ,
1
P+ V 2
 C o n s ta n t
2

SAJU K JOHN, M.Sc. Physics, NET, Doctoral Research Fellow at NIT Calicut 8
 1 1
P1 +  g h 1   v 12  P2 +  g h 2   v 2 2
2 2
but v 2  0, P 2 = P a n d P1 = P a
h 1  y1 an d h 2  y 2
1
Pa +  g y 1   v 12  P   g h 2
2
1
  v 12  ( P  Pa )   g ( y 2  y 1 )
2
1
  v 12  ( P  Pa )   g h
2
Applications of Bernoulli’s 2
 v 1 2  ( P  P a )   g h 
Principle 

Application-1 2
 v1  ( P  Pa )  2 g h

Speed of Efflux: Torricelli’s Law This is the expression for speed of
The word efflux means fluid out flow. efflux.

Special cases:

Case1: In case of rocket propulsion,

P>>Pa.

Consider a tank containing a liquid of
density ρ with a small hole in its side
at a height y1 from its bottom.
IfA 2   A 1 ,th e n v 2   v 1 .
Then we may take that the fluid to be
approximately rest at the top, i.e.
v2=0.
At the hole, P1=Pa
Applying Bernoulli’s equation at
points (1) and (2)
2
So the term (P  Pa )  2gh

and 2gh can be neglected.
 Speed of efflux(exhaust gases)
2
v1  (P  Pa )

Case2: - In case of an open tank
P = Pa
 v1  2gh.This speed is same as
that of a freely falling body
(a body droped from a height).
this eqn (v2  2gh ) is known as
Torricelli 's law.
Application-2 Venturi-meter
Use: - It is a device used to measure
the flow speed of an incompressible
fluid.

SAJU K JOHN, M.Sc. Physics, NET, Doctoral Research Fellow at NIT Calicut 9
 automobile, Filter pumps, Bunsen
burner, Atomisers and Sprayers

Atomisers and Sprayers

Venturi-meter consists of a tube of

broad diameter and a small
constriction (narrow region at the When the piston is pushed, the air
middle). A manometer in the form of inside the tube flows out of it. The
a U- tube is also attached to it. By velocity of air at the narrow opening
applying eqn of continuity at the areas (nozzle) will be high. So the pressure
(1) and (2) at the nozzle decreases. Because of
the pressure difference, the liquid in
A
A v 1  av 2  v 2  v 1      (1) the container rises up through the
a
capillary tube. This liquid meets with
T h en by u sin g Berno ulli ' s eqn
the out flowing air and a mixture of
for a h orizontal pipe,
air and liquid is sprayed out.
1 1
P1   v 1 2  P2   v 2 2
2 2 Application-3 Blood flow and heart
1 1 A
 P1   v 1 2  P2   ( ) 2 v 1 2 attack
2 2 a
1  A 
 P1  P2   v 1 2  ( ) 2  1   (2 )
2  a 
If h is the difference in liq uid level s
in th e m anom eter, w e have
P1  P2   m g h      (3)
By the accumulation of plaque, the
w here  m is the density of the liqu id
artery may get constricted (narrow).
in t he m anom eter. So the velocity at the narrow opening
Fro m eqns (2), (3) becomes high and so pressure
1  A 2  becomes low. Then due to the external
 v12  ( a )  1    m gh
2 pressure, the artery may collapse. The
1
2  m gh  A 2  heart exerts further pressure to open
v1 2
  ( a )  1
 this artery and forces the blood
1 / 2
2  m gh  A 2  through. But repeated collapsing may
v1   ( a )  1
 occur. This may result in heart attack.

The principle behind the venture- Application-4 Spinning ball

meter is used in the Carburator of (Magnus effect)

SAJU K JOHN, M.Sc. Physics, NET, Doctoral Research Fellow at NIT Calicut 10
 without damaging other part of the
houses. Explain

Ans:

For a spinning ball, velocity of air

streamlines above it becomes smaller
than that below it. So the pressure
above it becomes greater than that
below it. Thus the ball gets a
downward shift. This is called
Magnus effect. Question6: Two pith balls are
suspended from a rigid support using
Application-6 Aerofoil or lift on air strings of equal length. What happens
craft wing if air is blown between the balls?
What is the principle behind this?
Aerofoil is a properly shaped piece,
shaped so as to produce an upward Ans:
lift, when it moves horizontally
through air.

When aerofoil moves horizontally

through air, because of its shape, the Viscosity
air streamlines get crowded above it Liquids, flow in the form of layers.
than below. So the velocity of air This type of flow is called laminar
stream lines above the aerofoil will be flow.
greater than that below it. Therefore
the pressure above the aerofoil
becomes less than that below it. Thus
it gets an upward lift.

Question5: During windstorms, the Viscous force

roofs of certain houses are blown off

SAJU K JOHN, M.Sc. Physics, NET, Doctoral Research Fellow at NIT Calicut 11
 It is the frictional force which
opposes the relative motion between
the liquid (fluid) layers.
Newton’s viscous formula
Consider a layer of liquid between
two glass plates. If the upper plate is
pushed tangentially, it moves with
velocity v and the liquid layers suffer
a shearing strain.
Note: - The viscosity of a liquid
decreases with temperature while it
increases in the case of gases.[When
temperature increases the randomness
of gases increases.]
Stokes’ Law
When a spherical body of density ‘ρ’
moves through a fluid of density ‘σ’,
the viscous force acting on it is given
by,

F v  6   r v This is known as
Stokes’ law.

Terminal velocity

Consider a
spherical body
In the case of fluids, falling through a
Stress  strain rate viscous medium.
F strain

A tim e
 v t 
F   
There are three

A t forces acting on the body:
F v

A  (i) Weight of the body(Fg) , acting in
F v the downward direction.

A 
T he con s tan t  is called (ii) Buoyant force (Fb), acting in the
coefficient of velo city.
upward direction.
v
F   A . T his is N ew ton 's
l (iii) Viscous force(Fv) acting in the
viscou s form ula.
upward direction.
U n its o f vis cos ity : 
SI un it =P oiseiulle(P  ). If initially Fg > Fb+Fv, the body
Its oh er un its are N m s-2
will accelerate in the downward
o r P a s. direction. The velocity of the body
D im ensio ns of voisco sity goes on increasing and so viscous
are M L-1 T -1 force also increases.

SAJU K JOHN, M.Sc. Physics, NET, Doctoral Research Fellow at NIT Calicut 12
 And finally a stage can be reached
at which the total upward force
(Fv+Fb) becomes equal to the
downward force (Fg). Then the total
force acting on the body become zero.
Thereafter the body will move with
constant velocity called terminal
velocity.
Note:- If <, Vt becomes negative.
Thus the body will go up. This is the
reason why air bubbles rises in liquid
and clouds in the sky moves upward.
Pr6: The terminal velocity of a copper
ball of radius 2mm falling through a
tank of oil at 200 C is 6.5cm/s.
Compute the viscosity of the oil at
20 0C. Density of oil is 1.5x103 kg/m3,
density of copper is 8.9x10 3 kg/m3.

Soln:

When the body attains the terminal

velocity.

Fv+Fb=Fg -------------------- (1)

Fv = 6  rv t
Fg = m g
 V g
4 3
= r g
3
Fb = weight of fluid displaced
 mass of fluid displaced  g
 Volume    g
4 3
= r g
3
Pr7: Eight spherical rain drops of
 e q n (1 ) 
equal size are falling vertically
4 4 through air with a uniform speed of 1
6   rv t +  r 3  g   r 3 g
3 3 m/s. What would be the uniform
4 speed if these drops were to combine
6   rv t =  r 3 g (    )
3 to form one large spherical drop?
4  r 3 (   ) g
vt=
3  6 r Soln:
2 r 2 (   ) g
vt =
9 

SAJU K JOHN, M.Sc. Physics, NET, Doctoral Research Fellow at NIT Calicut 13

Surface tension
If we consider a molecule well
inside the breaker the net force on it is
zero (figure (a)). But for a molecule
on the liquid meniscus (free surface)
there is a net downward force (figure
(b)).
Definition of surface tension: -
Surface tension is defined as the
tangential force per unit length
acting perpendicular to one side on
an imaginary line of molecules on
the liquid meniscus.
SAJU K JOHN, M.Sc. Physics, NET, Doctoral Research Fellow at NIT Calicut
F N
S S I un it is ,
 m
D im ension M T -2
Effect of surface tension: -
 Due to surface tension the liquid
surfaces act as elastic membranes.
 Due to surface tension, liquids have a
tendency to reduce their free surface
area.
Question6: Why liquid drops assume
spherical shape?
Ans: - Due to surface tension, liquids
have a tendency to reduce their free
surface area. For a given volume
spherical shape has least surface area.
Surface energy
Surface energy is defined as the work
done to increase the surface area of
a liquid meniscus by unity.
W
S SI unit J
A m2
Relation between surface tension
and surface energy
Consider a horizontal liquid film
ending in a bar free to slide over
parallel guides as shown in figure (a).
Suppose we move the bar by a small
distance d as shown in figure (b).
Since the area of the film increases a
work must be done for to move the
bar.
14
The work done for that, 1mm to 1000 droplets. Surface
tension of water=72x10-3N/m.
W  Fd
Soln:
 F
 (2S)d S=   F=S
Since a film has two free surfaces we 
have to take 2S instead of S. 

Work done
Surface energy =
Increase in Area
2Sd
 S
2d
i.e. surface energy is numerically
equal to surface tension.

Pr8:Calculate the amount of energy

evolved when eight drops of mercury
of radius 1 mm each, combine to form
one drop(surface tension of mercury is
0.55N/m)

Soln: Pr10: A wire ring of internal radius

3cm and external radius 3.2 cm is
rested on the surface of a liquid and
then raised. An extra pulling force
equivalent to the weight of 3.03g is
required before the film breaks than it
is after. Calculate the surface tension
of the liquid.

Soln:

Pr9: Surface tension changes with

temperature.

(a) Hot soup is tastier than cold

one. Why?
(b) Calculate the work done in
breaking a water drop of radius

SAJU K JOHN, M.Sc. Physics, NET, Doctoral Research Fellow at NIT Calicut 15
 The pressure
inside a liquid
Angle of contact
drop is greater
Angle of contact is the angle between than that
the tangent drawn to the liquid outside it.
meniscus at the point of contact and
The excess pressure ΔP =Pi-P0
the solid part inside the liquid.
Suppose that the liquid drop expands
under its own pressure and its radius
increases from r to r + Δr.

Then the work done for this

expansion,

W = F Δr

= (ΔPA) Δr

[A  area, P  Pr essure ]
W  P  4r 2  r  (1)
The same work done can be calculated
u sin g the idea of surface energy
as follows :
W  Surface energy  increase in area
 S  (4(r  r)2  4r 2 )
 S  4  r 2  2rr  (r 2 )   4r 2 

 S  4 r 2  8rr  4(r)2  4 r 2 
 S(8rr) (2)
Since r 2 is very small, 4(r)2 
For pure water and clean glass, angle  
of contact. can be neglected. 
W  S(8rr) (2)
  0 From equations (1) and (2),
Note: - P  4 r 2   r  8 rrS
P  r  2S
 Pressure above a concave
2S
meniscus is greater than that below it. P 
r
 Pressure above a convex
meniscus is less than that below it. 2S
Pi  P0 
Excess pressure inside a liquid drop r
2S
Pi  P0 
r

SAJU K JOHN, M.Sc. Physics, NET, Doctoral Research Fellow at NIT Calicut 16
 Capillary rise

The ascent of liquid in tubes of very

small bore radius in spite of gravity is
called capillary rise. Capillary rise is
due to the pressure difference at the
curved (concave or convex) free
Excess pressure inside a liquid surface.
bubble Expression for capillary ascent
A liquid bubble has two
free surfaces  S  2S
2(2S) 4S
So  
r r
4S
P 
r
Excess pressure inside From figure,
an air bubble inside a liquid a a
C os    r 
2S r cos 
P  T he pressure difference the
r
tw o sides of the m eniscus.
Pr10: A single drop of liquid is split 2S 2S
in to 8 identical drops. What will be P  
r a
the excess pressure in each drop? C os 
2SC os 
Ans:        (1)
a

W e know pressure at the same

horizontal level is the same.
 PA  PB
 Pi  P0  hpg  Pi  P0  hpg
  P  hpg

From eqns. (1) and (2),

2Scos 2Scos
h g   h
a a g

  Angle of contact
S  Surface tension
a  Radius of the capillary tube
  Density of liquid

SAJU K JOHN, M.Sc. Physics, NET, Doctoral Research Fellow at NIT Calicut 17
Expression for surface tension : 
hapg
S
2cos

Detergents and surface tension

Detergents (soap) reduce the

surface tension of water. Soap
molecule has two ends: One end is
hydrophilic (water loving) and the
other end is oil loving.

One end of detergent molecule form

bond with water and other end forms
with oil dirt. Dirt particles surrounded
by detergent molecule is removed on
rinsing in water.

SAJU K JOHN, M.Sc. Physics, NET, Doctoral Research Fellow at NIT Calicut 18