If a liquid droplet is formed on a surface, what shape does it take due to surface tension?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
If a liquid droplet is formed on a surface, what shape does it take due to surface tension?
Square
Flat
Sphere
Triangle
A liquid droplet takes the shape of a sphere because this shape minimizes the surface area for a given volume, thus minimizing surface energy.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
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Q
Q: If a liquid droplet is formed on a surface, what shape does it take due to surface tension?
Solution: A liquid droplet takes the shape of a sphere because this shape minimizes the surface area for a given volume, thus minimizing surface energy.
Steps: 5
Step 1: Understand that a liquid droplet is formed when a liquid collects on a surface.
Step 2: Know that liquids have a property called surface tension, which makes the surface of the liquid behave like a stretched elastic sheet.
Step 3: Recognize that surface tension tries to minimize the surface area of the liquid droplet.
Step 4: Realize that the shape with the smallest surface area for a given volume is a sphere.
Step 5: Conclude that because of surface tension, a liquid droplet takes the shape of a sphere.
