Surface Tension

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Adhesive and Cohesive Forces
Adhesive Forces mean the force of attraction between molecules of different substances in
contact with each other. For example: - the clinging of water particles onto glass, attaching of
marker ink particles onto white board.
Cohesive Forces mean the force of attraction between molecules of same substance. For
example:- the clinging of mercury particles with each other though they are in contact with other
substances, clinging of water particles with each other when placed on ………. leaf.
The overall adhesive and cohesive forces on different particles at different regions of a liquid
placed in a vessel would be as
When a liquid is placed in a vessel, the adhesive force in the boundary molecule (at P) will be
towards the vessel perpendicularly as in the, i.e. figure to the left (shown by FA).
Similarly the cohesive force on this boundary molecule will be in all possible directions inside the
liquid. So, the resultant cohesive force will be at an angle of 450 with the vertical or horizontal
because of almost equal forces exerted by all molecules possible. This direction will be as in the
figure (shown by FC).

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Shape of Meniscus
This depends on the comparative ratio of the adhesive forces and cohesive forces felt by the
liquid molecules at the surface, when they are placed and filled in vessels. The adhesive force on
the molecule at the very topmost edge will act away from liquid surface, i.e. to the left in the
figure. The overall cohesive force will be towards the liquid mass at an angle of 450 with the
vertical or horizontal. The interaction of these two forces will determine whether the surface is
plane, concave upwards or convex upwards.
When the two forces are considered, if the adhesive force 2FA is equal to the resultant cohesive
force FC( 2FA=FC), then the overall resultant will be directed vertically downward. This makes
the liquid surface totally horizontal and plane.
2 FA  FC
But generally, 2FA is either larger or smaller than FC. If 2FA>FC, the resultant force on the
liquid surface molecules at the edge will not be downwards but slightly outwards, so the surface
will be concave when observed from upwards.
2FA  FC
If 2FA< FC, the resultant force on the liquid surface molecules at the edge will not be
downwards but slightly inwards, so the surface will be convex when observed from upwards.

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FA
FC
FR
Convex Meniscus
2FA  FC

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Capillary Effect
When certain liquid is placed in any vessel, the shape of the liquid meniscus (upper surface) will
generally either be concave upwards or convex upwards. If a narrow tube (called as Capillary
Tube) is inserted into the fluid, the level of the fluid either rises up to certain height or gets
depressed by some. For liquids with concave surface, the liquid rises up and for those which have
convex surface, it gets depressed.
When the liquid level rises, it can not leave vacuum below it. So, liquid also climbs along it. The
liquid that has climbed, will start to be attracted more by the downward gravitational force. More
the liquid that climbs, more will be the downward force (in contrast, the upward force due to
surface tension will be constant for a certain setting). So, the surface tension can pull liquid only
up to that height where the downward gravitational force becomes equal to the upward force
due to surface tension. After that the rise stops, holding a certain level of liquid in ‘hanging’ state.
In case of liquids forming convex shape, the liquid level will descend till the forces are balanced.
Determination of Surface Tension (by Capillary Tube method)
Let a capillary tube of a small diameter be dipped in a liquid which forms acute angle at the
interface or whose surface is concave. This will cause the liquid to rise in the capillary tube. The
upward force is caused by the surface tension. Its value and direction at the border between the
surface and vessel surface acts in the slanted direction as in the figure. The effect of this tension
‘T’ in upward direction is ‘Tcosθ’ which is responsible to pull the surface and the liquid column
upwards. The length of contact between the surface and the vessel is equal to the internal
circumference of the tube, i.e. 2πr. So, the upward force is equal to the product of upward
component of Surface Tension and the overall length of contact of the surface with the solid (i.e.
the tube).

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Fup = Tcosθ×2πr
The rise of liquid column occurs till the upward force due to surface tension becomes equal to the
downward force produced by the weight of the raised liquid (mlg). Determination of this force
requires the value of total volume of liquid raised, done as follows:
The total volume of liquid that gets raised is equal to the sum of volume of liquid above AB and
below AB.
Volume of the liquid below ‘AB’ (and above the external liquid level) = πr2h
Volume of the liquid above ‘AB’ = Volume of cylinder ACDBEA – Volume of half sphere
CDE
The volume of liquid above ‘AB’ is shown by the following figure

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The volume of the cylinder ACDBEA (Volume = πr2r) is as shown
 1 4 
whereas the volume of the half sphere Volume = 2 3 πr3 can be shown as
  
1 4 
So, V(above AB) = πr2r-2 3 πr3
 
2
Or, V(above AB) = πr3-3 πr3
1
Or, V(above AB) = 3 πr3
Thus total volume of liquid is

V(total) = V(below AB) + V(above AB)

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1  r
= πr2h + 3 πr3 = πr2 h + 3
 
If ‘ρ’ is the density of the liquid, the mass of the liquid is

 r
m = ρVtotal = ρπr2 h + 3
 
And the downward force on the liquid is

 r  r
Fdown = mg = ρπr2 h + 3 = πr2 h + 3 ρg
   
When the liquid has risen enough and is in equilibrium status,
Fup = Fdown
 r
Or, Tcosθ×2πr = πr2 h + 3 ρg
 
 r
Or, 2Tcosθ = h + 3 rρg
 
h + r  rρg
 3
 
Or, T = 2cosθ
r
If the tube is very narrow, ‘r’ is very small compared to the height of the liquid ‘h’. So, 3 << h and
h + r  ≈ h.
 3
 
hrρg
This gives, T = 2cosθ
In case the rise of liquid level is to be determined from the given value of Surface Tension,
h + r  rρg
 3 = 2Tcosθ
 
r 2Tcosθ
h+3 = rρg
2Tcosθ r
h = rρg - 3
Again, if ‘r’ is considered very small,
2Tcosθ
h = rρg
This means if the radius of the capillary tube is more (thicker capillary tube), the height raised or
fallen is less and if the radius is less (thinner capillary tube), the height is more.

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Case of insufficient height of Capillary tube
If the length of the tube is not sufficient compared to the height of the liquid column that can rise,
then let ‘r’ is the radius of the tube and ‘R’ is the radius of curvature of the meniscus. Then CO =
DO = R and CM = DM = r. Also MCO = MDO = θ.
[When determining height, it was assumed that the shape of the meniscus was totally
hemisphere, which is not true in reality.]
T T
O
R R
C D
r
M r
A B
E
r
In ΔCOM, cosθ =R
2Tcosθ
So, h = rρg
2T 2T r 2T
Or, h = rρg × cosθ = rρg × R = Rρg
This gives,
1 1
h αR and also R α h.
This means the radius of curvature of the meniscus depends inversely. If ‘h’ goes on decreasing,
‘R’ goes on increasing, i.e. the surface gets more flat or less curved. The ultimate that happens is
that if the tube sinks totally (h = 0), then the surface is totally flat (R = ∞). So, there is no question
of spilling of liquid.

Surface Tension

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Sajit

Adhesive and Cohesive Forces

Determination of Surface Tension (by Capillary Tube method)

The volume of liquid above ‘AB’ is shown by the following figure

The volume of the cylinder ACDBEA (Volume = πr2r) is as shown

Thus total volume of liquid is

If ‘ρ’ is the density of the liquid, the mass of the liquid is

And the downward force on the liquid is

When the liquid has risen enough and is in equilibrium status,

Again, if ‘r’ is considered very small,

Case of insufficient height of Capillary tube

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