What is the shape of a liquid droplet on a surface due to surface tension?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
What is the shape of a liquid droplet on a surface due to surface tension?
Flat
Cylindrical
Spherical
Cubical
A liquid droplet takes a spherical shape because a sphere has the minimum surface area for a given volume, minimizing the energy associated with surface tension.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
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Q
Q: What is the shape of a liquid droplet on a surface due to surface tension?
Solution: A liquid droplet takes a spherical shape because a sphere has the minimum surface area for a given volume, minimizing the energy associated with surface tension.
Steps: 5
Step 1: Understand that a liquid droplet is formed when a liquid is placed on a surface.
Step 2: Know that surface tension is a property of liquids that makes their surface behave like a stretched elastic sheet.
Step 3: Realize that surface tension tries to minimize the surface area of the droplet.
Step 4: Remember that a sphere has the smallest surface area for a given volume compared to other shapes.
Step 5: Conclude that because of surface tension, the liquid droplet takes a spherical shape to minimize energy.
