SRI VENKATESHWARA COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

 DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

 SEMINAR ON
 “CAPILLARITY AND SURFACE TENSION”

PRESENTED BY :
1. ANUSHA BP (1VE17ME007)
2. DEVIKA B (1VE16ME017)
3. MOUNIKA G (1VE17ME038)
4. PRARTHANA PANDA (1VE17ME047)
Fluid Mechanics
Capillarity And Surface Tension
Capillarity

▪ This rise or fall of a liquid when a small diameter tube is immersed in

it is known as capillarity.
▪ Any liquid between contact surfaces attains curved surface as shown
in figure. The curved surface of the liquid is called Meniscus. If
adhesion is more than cohesion then the meniscus will be concave. If
cohesion is greater than adhesion meniscus will be convex.
Expression for capillary rise

▪ Weight of risen fluid in tube = specific weight

π
volume of risen fluid = ρ g ( D2 h )
4
▪ where, ρ = density of liquid, g = acceleration due to
gravity, D = diameter of tube, h= capillary rise,
▪ Vertical component of surface tension force, Fs=
σπD cosθ
▪ For equilibrium, Vertical component of surface
tension force = weight of risen fluid
π
▪ σπD cosθ = ρ g ( D2 h )
4
4σ𝑐𝑜𝑠θ
▪ h=
ρ𝑔𝐷
Expression for Capillary fall

▪ Total internal pressure 𝜋force =

pressure Area = ρ g h ( D2 )
4
▪ where, ρ = density of liquid, g =
acceleration due to gravity, D =
diameter of tube, h= capillary fall.
▪ Vertical component of surface
tension force, Fs = -σπD cosθ
▪ For equilibrium, Vertical component
of surface tension force = total
internal pressure force
𝜋
▪ -σπD cosθ = ρ g h ( D2 )
4
4σ𝑐𝑜𝑠θ
▪ h= −
ρ𝑔𝐷
Surface Tension

▪ Surface tension is due to unbalanced cohesive forces at the interface

of liquid, gases or between two immiscible liquids.
▪ A liquid molecule on the interior of the liquid body has other
molecules on all sides of it, so that the forces of attraction are in
equilibrium and the molecule remain equally attracted on all the
sides. On the other hand a liquid molecule at the surface of the liquid
i.e. at the interface between a liquid and a gas (air) does not have any
liquid molecule above it and consequently there exit a net downward
force on the molecule due to the attraction of the molecules below it.
 Molecule A which is below the free surface of liquid is
 And hence in equilibrium while
surrounded by various corresponding molecules and
molecule B is on the surface of
consequently under the influence of balanced
the liquid due to which it is
cohesive forces on all sides,
under the influence of net
downward force (unbalanced
cohesive force). This force on
the molecules at the liquid
surface is normal to the liquid
surface. Due to the attraction
of liquid molecules below the
surface, a film or a membrane
is formed at the surface which
can resist small tensile load.
For example: A small needle
placed gently upon the water
surface will not sink but will be
supported by the tension at the
water surface.
 This property of the liquid
surface film to exert a tension
is called surface tension. It is
denoted by σ .
F
σ= s
L
Applications of Surface tension:

▪ The effect of surface tension can be seen in a rain drop or a liquid droplet
(spherical shape of liquid drop is due to surface tension), soap bubble,
floating of leaves on the fluid and liquid jet.
▪ Reason of pressure rise / spherical shape in a liquid droplet: When a
droplet is separated initially from the surface of the main body of liquid,
then due to surface tension there is a net inward force exerted over the
entire surface of the droplet which causes the surface of the droplet to
contract from all the sides and results in increasing the internal pressure
within the droplet. This contraction of the droplet continues till the inward
force due to surface tension is in balance with the internal pressure and the
droplet forms in to sphere which is the shape for minimum surface area.
▪ Due to the surface tension pressure intensity within a liquid drop, soap
bubble and within a liquid jet increases. This internal pressure which is in
excess to the outside pressure can be determined using following
expressions.
1. Pressure inside a liquid drop in
excess of atmospheric pressure.

Fs
▪ Surface tension, σ = L

Fs = σ L
Fs = σ (π 𝑑)
𝐹𝑝
▪ Pressure, P = 𝐴
𝐹𝑝 = P A
𝜋
𝐹𝑝 = P * 4 𝑑 2

For equilibrium of a liquid drop, Surface tension force = pressure force

Fs = 𝐹𝑝
4𝜎
P=
𝑑

▪ Here, p is pressure above atmospheric pressure.

▪ In a liquid drop, surface tension resists pressure force whereas pressure
force tries to burst the droplet.
2. Pressure inside a soap bubble in
excess of atmospheric pressure.

▪ A spherical soap bubble has two surfaces in contact with air, one inside and
the other outside, each one of which contributes the same amount of
tensile force due to surface tension. Therefore,
▪ Total surface tension force,
Fs = 2 σ L
Fs = 2 σ (π d)
▪ For equilibrium of a soap bubble, Surface tension force = pressure force
Fs = 𝐹𝑝
𝜋
2 σ (π d) = P * 𝑑 2
4
8𝜎
P=
𝑑
3. Pressure inside a liquid jet in
excess of atmospheric pressure.

Fs
▪ Surface tension, σ =
2L
Fs = σ ( 2𝐿 )
𝐹𝑝
▪ Pressure, P =
𝐴
𝐹𝑝 = P A
𝐹𝑝 = P * L d
▪ For equilibrium of a soap bubble, Surface
tension force = pressure force
Fs = 𝐹𝑝
σ ( 2𝐿 ) = P * Ld
2𝜎
P=
𝑑