Definitions for surface tension
sur·face ten·sion

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. surface tensionnoun

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

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. surface tensionnoun

   the effect on the surface of a liquid that makes it behave as a stretched elastic membrane; it is caused by unbalanced intermolecular forces

2. surface tensionnoun

   a measure of this effect

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Surface tension

   Surface tension is the tendency of liquid surfaces at rest to shrink into the minimum surface area possible. Surface tension is what allows objects with a higher density than water such as razor blades and insects (e.g. water striders) to float on a water surface without becoming even partly submerged. At liquid–air interfaces, surface tension results from the greater attraction of liquid molecules to each other (due to cohesion) than to the molecules in the air (due to adhesion).There are two primary mechanisms in play. One is an inward force on the surface molecules causing the liquid to contract. Second is a tangential force parallel to the surface of the liquid. This tangential force is generally referred to as the surface tension. The net effect is the liquid behaves as if its surface were covered with a stretched elastic membrane. But this analogy must not be taken too far as the tension in an elastic membrane is dependent on the amount of deformation of the membrane while surface tension is an inherent property of the liquid–air or liquid–vapour interface.Because of the relatively high attraction of water molecules to each other through a web of hydrogen bonds, water has a higher surface tension (72.8 millinewtons (mN) per meter at 20 °C) than most other liquids. Surface tension is an important factor in the phenomenon of capillarity. Surface tension has the dimension of force per unit length, or of energy per unit area. The two are equivalent, but when referring to energy per unit of area, it is common to use the term surface energy, which is a more general term in the sense that it applies also to solids. In materials science, surface tension is used for either surface stress or surface energy.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. surface tension

   Surface tension is a physical property of liquids that results from the cohesive forces between molecules at the surface, leading to the liquid behaving like an elastic sheet. It is the force that allows liquid drops to form and causes the surface of the liquid to resist an external force, due to the cohesive nature of its molecules.

FreebaseRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Surface tension

   Surface tension is a contractive tendency of the surface of a liquid that allows it to resist an external force. It is revealed, for example, in the floating of some objects on the surface of water, even though they are denser than water, and in the ability of some insects to run on the water surface. This property is caused by cohesion of similar molecules, and is responsible for many of the behaviors of liquids. Surface tension has the dimension of force per unit length, or of energy per unit area. The two are equivalent—but when referring to energy per unit of area, people use the term surface energy—which is a more general term in the sense that it applies also to solids and not just liquids. In materials science, surface tension is used for either surface stress or surface free energy.

U.S. National Library of MedicineRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Surface Tension

   The force acting on the surface of a liquid, tending to minimize the area of the surface. (From McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 6th ed)

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1. • Physical Phenomenon

How to pronounce surface tension?

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Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of surface tension in Chaldean Numerology is: 4

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of surface tension in Pythagorean Numerology is: 7