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surface tension
[ sur-fis ten-shuhn ]
noun
- the elasticlike force existing in the surface of a body, especially a liquid, tending to minimize the area of the surface, caused by asymmetries in the intermolecular forces between surface molecules.
surface tension
noun
- a property of liquids caused by intermolecular forces near the surface leading to the apparent presence of a surface film and to capillarity, etc
- a measure of this property expressed as the force acting normal to one side of a line of unit length on the surface: measured in newtons per metre Tγσ
surface tension
/ sûr′fəs /
- A property of liquids such that their surfaces behave like a thin, elastic film. Surface tension is an effect of intermolecular attraction, in which molecules at or near the surface undergo a net attraction to the rest of the fluid, while molecules not near the surface are attracted to other molecules equally in all directions and undergo no net attraction. Because of surface tension, the surface of a liquid can support light objects (such as water beetles on the surface of a pond). Surface tension is responsible for the spherical shape of drops of liquid; spheres minimize the surface area of the drop and thus minimize surface tension.
- See also capillary action
Word History and Origins
Origin of surface tension1
Example Sentences
The insect may use a small air bubble to pin its belly to the underside of the water’s surface, but just how it steps without breaking the water’s surface tension remains a mystery for now.
Instead of the nylon or polyester typically found in hard shells, the Odin Infinity is made with polypropylene, a polymer that has a low surface tension and so sheds precipitation without any treatment.
While surface tension of the water, fluid mechanics, and surfboard buoyancy might factor into the equation, the Coandӑ effect is the key to noseriding.
This will add more surface tension and help your bread rise evenly.
How the insects were able to sense the change in the water’s surface tension is unknown.
The fact that her show is called “Surface Tension” makes clear that she understands and intends this reference.
It depends upon the fact that bile acids lower surface tension.
His feet rested on nothing—and yet there was some sort of tension under him—like the surface tension of water.
On the moon, the surface tension of the ink was exactly the same as on earth, but the gravity was five-sixths less.
The modern physicist explains the phenomenon as due to surface-tension of the fluid.
This may be a tropism (stereotropism) or it may be a mere surface tension phenomenon.
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