Surface tension

Surface tension
Surface tension Sur"face ten"sion (Physics) That property, due to molecular forces, which exists in the surface film of all liquids and tends to bring the contained volume into a form having the least superficial area. The thickness of this film, amounting to less than a thousandth of a millimeter, is considered to equal the radius of the sphere of molecular action, that is, the greatest distance at which there is cohesion between two particles. Particles lying below this film, being equally acted on from all sides, are in equilibrium as to forces of cohesion, but those in the film are on the whole attracted inward, and tension results. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • surface tension — n the attractive force exerted upon the surface molecules of a liquid by the molecules beneath that tends to draw the surface molecules into the bulk of the liquid and makes the liquid assume the shape having the least surface area * * * the… …   Medical dictionary

  • surface tension — ► NOUN ▪ the tension of the surface film of a liquid, which tends to minimize surface area …   English terms dictionary

  • surface tension — n [U] the way the ↑molecules in the surface of a liquid stick together so that the surface is held together …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • surface tension — n. a property of liquids in which the exposed surface tends to contract to the smallest possible area because of unequal molecular cohesive forces near the surface: measured by the force per unit of length …   English World dictionary

  • surface tension — noun uncount TECHNICAL the force by which the molecules of a liquid stay close together at the surface to form the smallest possible area …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • Surface tension — For the work of fiction, see Surface Tension (short story). Surface tension is a property of the surface of a liquid that causes it to behave as an elastic sheet. It allows insects, such as the water strider (pond skater, UK), to walk on water.… …   Wikipedia

  • surface tension — Physics. the elasticlike force existing in the surface of a body, esp. a liquid, tending to minimize the area of the surface, caused by asymmetries in the intermolecular forces between surface molecules. [1875 80] * * * Property of a liquid… …   Universalium

  • surface tension — noun a phenomenon at the surface of a liquid caused by intermolecular forces (Freq. 4) • Hypernyms: ↑physical phenomenon • Hyponyms: ↑capillarity, ↑capillary action, ↑interfacial tension, ↑interfacial surface tension …   Useful english dictionary

  • surface tension — paviršinės įtempties koeficientas statusas T sritis Standartizacija ir metrologija apibrėžtis Jėga, statmena ilginiam paviršiaus elementui, padalyta iš to elemento ilgio. atitikmenys: angl. surface tension vok. Oberflächenspannungskonstante, f… …   Penkiakalbis aiškinamasis metrologijos terminų žodynas

  • surface tension — paviršinė įtemptis statusas T sritis Standartizacija ir metrologija apibrėžtis Dydis, išreiškiamas jėgos, mažinančios skysčio paviršiaus plotą ir statmenos ilginiam paviršiaus elementui, ir to elemento ilgio dalmeniu. atitikmenys: angl. surface… …   Penkiakalbis aiškinamasis metrologijos terminų žodynas

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”