Physics Surface Tension

SURFACE TENSION
 Intermolecular force : -
The molecular force of attraction between any two molecules of a substance is known as intermolecular force of
attraction. It is a short range force (about 10–9 m)
There are two types of intermolecular forces :
(a) Cohesive force:-
Force of attraction between same type of molecules of same substance is called cohesive force.
(b) Adhesive force :-
Force of attraction between two molecules of different substances is called adhesive force.

 Sphere of influence :-
An imaginary sphere having molecule at its centre
M
and range of molecular attraction as its radius is
called sphere of influence of that molecule.
 Molecular theory :-
Surface : -
The layer of surface film of liquid whose thickness is about equal to range of molecular attraction is called surface
film.
1. Assume that some liquid is taken in the container. Consider three
molecules of liquid A, B and C in the container as shown in fig. with
their sphere of influence.

2. Molecule A : It lies completely inside the liquid and is attracted equally in all directions by cohesive force. So
resultant force acting on it is zero.
3. Molecule B : It lies below the surface having small part of sphere of influence in air and major part of sphere of
influence inside the liquid. Upward adhesive force due to air molecules is negligible as compared to downward
cohesive force due to liquid molecules.
4. Molecule C : It lies on the liquid surface having half of the sphere of influence in water. There are large number
of liquid molecules in lower half while few air molecules in upper half of sphere of influence. Therefore,
maximum resultant downward force acts on molecule C.
5. The above consideration shows that every molecule of the liquid, situated at the surface or just inside the surface
or just inside the surface is acted upon by a resultant cohesive force acting inwards. This force acts on all the
molecules situated the surface layer of thickness equal to the range of molecular attraction (R).

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6. To increase the surface area, if molecules are brought to the surface from the liquid, work is done against the
resultant downward force.
7. This work done increases. The P.E. of the molecules at the surface.
8. The liquid has a tendency to have minimum P.E. To attain minimum. P.E it tries to reduce the number of
molecules in the free surface, so that its surface area is minimum. Thus, liquid surface behaves as a stretched
elastic membrane and has a tendency to contract, so as to occupy minimum area.
9. This behavior of liquid surface gives the properties of surface tension.
10. Thus, surface tension is a molecular phenomenon.
 Surface Tension:-
F
Force acting per unit length of an imaginary line drawn on
free liquid surface at right angles on either side of the line.
F
T
L
l
SI unit : N/m
Dimension : [M1L0T–2]

Examples :
Q.1 A needle of length 5 cm can just rest on the surface of water of surface tension 0.073 N/m. Find the vertical force
required to detach this floating needle from the surface of water.
Q.2 A horizontal circular loop of wire of diameter 0.08 m is lowered in to a oil. The force due to surface tension
required to pull the loop out of the liquid is 0.0226 N. Calculate the surface tension of the oil.
Q.3 A rectangular glass plate of length 10 cm, breadth 7 cm and thickness 2mm is arranged vertically so that its lower
side just touches water in a vertical. Calculate the downward force on plate due to surface tension assuming zero
angle of contact. (S.T. of water = 7  10–2 N/m.)
Q.4 A circular loop of thin wire of radius 5/ cm is suspended from one arm of a balance. The plane of the loop is in
contact with surface of soap solution. The pull on the loop due to S.T. is found to be 0.8  10–3 kg wt. Calculate
the S.T. of soap solution, assuming its angle of contact to be 00.
Q.5 A capillary tube having inner diameter 1 mm and the outer diameter 4 mm hangs vertically from one arm of the
balance. If the lower end of the tube just touches a liquid of surface tension 3  10–2 N/m, assuming that the liquid
wets the tube. Find the downward force due to surface tension acting on the tube.
Q.6 Calculate the force required to take away a flat circular plate of radius 0.01 m from the surface of water. The
surface tension of water is 0.075 N/m.

 Surface Energy :-
The potential energy per unit area of the liquid surface is known as surface energy.

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 Relation between surface tension and surface energy :-

1. Consider an open rectangular frame ABCD of a wire. Wire PQ is able to slide over rectangular frame without
friction.
2. When this frame is dipped in soap sol and taken out, then surface film APQD formed.
3. The wire PQ moves inwards due to surface tension.
Let, F = force acting on PQ towards AD due to surface tension
L = Length of wire PQ
T = S.T. of soap solution
4. The force acting on wire PQ
F = 2T  L
The factor 2 indicates that the soap film two surfaces, both in contact with the wire PQ
5. Let the wire PQ be pulled out through a small distance b i.e. up to P1Q1 against force F
 Change in area = final area – initial area
= L(L + b) – L2
= L2 + Lb – L2
= L b
Now, total change in area is
A = 2(L  b)
6. The workdone during this displacement is
W = Force  displacement
= F  b = 2T  L  b
= T  2 (L  b)
W=TA
7. This work is stored in the form of P.E. in the surface film.
W = P.E.
 P.E. = T  A
P.E.
 T
A
8. But, P.E. per unit area of the surface is called surface energy.
 Surface energy = T
i.e. Surface energy = Surface tension

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This is relation between surface energy and surface tension.
Unit : - J/m2
Dimension :- [M1L0T–2]

Note :
(i) Surface tension has same unit and dimensions as that of surface energy.
(ii) If number of liquid droplets are merged to form a single drop then its total surface area decreases, surface
energy decreases, temperature of liquid increases and energy is liberated.
(iii) Workdone is merged to form a single drop of radius R, from n droplets of equal size is equal size is equal to 4
R2T(n1/3 – 1)
(iv) If one drop of liquid is broken into number of droplets then its total surface area increases, surface energy
increases, temperature of liquid decreases and energy is absorbed.
(v) Workdone in breaking a drop of radius R into ‘n’ droplets of equal size is equal to 4R2T(n1/3–1).

Q.7 Calculate the potential energy of spherical mercury drop of radius 0.01 m due to surface tension. The S.T. of
mercury is 0.46 N/m.
Q.8 Calculate the workdone in blowing a soap bubble of radius 3 cm in air. The surface tension of soap solution is
0.025 N/m.
Q.9 Calculate the workdone required in blowing a soap bubble from the diameter of 5 cm to a diameter of 15 cm if the
surface tension of soap solution is 30 dyne/cm.
Q.10 A drop of water of 4 mm radius breaks into a million droplets, all of the same size. Calculate the work done in the
process, if the surface tension of water is 0.072 N/m.
Q.11 Eight mercury droplets each of radius 1 mm coalesce into a single drop. Calculate the amount of energy evolved
if the surface tension of mercury is 0.5 N/m.

Home Work - 1
1. Water is kept in a beaker of radius 5.0 cm. Consider a diameter of the beaker on the surface of the water. Find the
force by which the surface on one side of the diameter pulls the surface on the other side. Surface tension of water
is 0.075 N/m.
3
Ans: 7.5 10 N
2. A wire ring of 3 cm radius resting flat on the surface of a liquid is raised. The pull required is 3.03 gf more before
the film breaks than it is afterwards. Find the surface tension of the liquid.
Ans: 78.80 dynes/cm
3. The maximum force, in addition to the weight required to pull a wire 5 cm long from the surface of water at
20 0 C is 278 dynes. Calculate the surface tension of water.
Ans: 72.8 dynes/cm

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4. A glass plate of length 10 cm, breadth 1.54 cm and thickness 0.20 cm has a mass of 8.2 g in air. It is held
vertically with long side horizontal and the lower half under water. Find the apparent weight of the plate. Surface

tension of water 7.3 10 2 N/m and g 9.8ms 2 .

Ans: 80.16 10 3 N
5. A U-shaped wire is dipped in a soap solution and removed. The thin soap film formed between the wire and a light
slider supports a weight of 4.2 10 3 N (Which includes the small weight of the slider). The length of the slider is
0.05m. What is the surface tension of the liquid?
Ans: 4.2 10 2 N/m
6. A thin circular wire of 1.12 cm radius is supported horizontally in a liquid and withdrawn slowly by an upward
force of 5.53 10 3 N. If the surface tension of the liquid is 0.032 N/m, what is the mass of the wire?
4
Ans: 1.05 10 kg
7. The tension in the skin of the left ventricle of the heart is 4.90 N/m. A 4 cm cut is made on the left ventricle during
open-heart surgery. How many stitches must be used to repair the cut? Each stitch will safely support a tension of
0.4 N.
Ans: 29 stitches
8. Calculate the work done against tension force in blowing a soap bubble of diameter 1 cm. The surface tension of
2
soap solution is 2.5 10 N/m.
5
Ans: 1.57 10 J
9. Find the work required to break up a drop of water of radius 0.5 cm into drop of water each of radii 1 mm. The
2
surface tension of water is 7 10 N/m.
5
Ans: 8.8 10 J
8
10. What amount of energy will be liberated if 1000 droplets of water each 10 m diameter coalesce to form a large
2
spherical drop? Surface tension of water is 7.2 10 N/m.
14
Ans: 2.035 10 J
11. A film of water is formed between two straight parallel wires each 10 cm long at a separation of 0.5 cm. Calculate
3
the work required to increase 1 mm distance between the wires. Surface tension of water 72 10 N/m.
7
Ans: 144 10 J
12. Suppose that 64 raindrops combine into a single drop. Calculate the ratio of the total energy of the 64 drops to that
of a single drop.
Ans: 4

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13. If a number of little droplets of water, all of the same radius r, coalesce to from a single drop of radius R, show
3T 1 1
that the rise in temperature is given by; , where T is the surface tension of water and J is the
J r R
mechanical equivalent of heat.
Ans:
14. The surface tension of soap solution is 0.03 N/m. What amount of work is required to produce a bubble of radius
0.5 m?
Ans: 1.884 10 3 J
15. A spherical drop of mercury of radius 2 mm falls to the ground and breaks into 10 smaller drops of equal size.
Calculate the amount of work that has to be done in the process. Surface tension of mercury is 4.72 10 1 Nm 1 .

Ans: 2.74 10 5 J
16. Calculate the change in surface energy of a soap bubble when its radius decreases from 5 cm to 1 cm. Surface
tension of soap solution 2.0 10 2 Nm 1 .
3
Ans: 1.2 10 J

 Angle of Contact :-
When a liquid is in contact with a solid, the angle between tangent drawn to the free surface of liquid and the
surface of solid at the point of contact measured inside the liquid is called angle of contact.
 Explanation of angle of contact :
The phenomenon of angle of contact can be explained on the
basis of molecular forces. A liquid molecule “A” situated in the
liquid surface and in contact with the solid as shown in fig. and
sphere of influence is drawn, which shown sphere of influence
partly in solid, partly in liquid and partly in air.

The molecule ‘A’ is acted upon by the following four forces.

(i) Net adhesive force exerted by the molecule of the solid AP as Fa .
(ii)Net cohesive force exerted by the molecule of liquid AQ as Fc
(iii) Net adhesive force exerted by the molecules of air, as the number of air molecules in sphere of influence of
molecule ‘A’ is very small; the resultant adhesive force between air and liquid is neglected.
(iv) Gravitational force equal to the weight of the molecule is also small and therefore it is neglected.

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So the behavior of the molecule depends upon two forces AP and AQ .

(a) (b) (c)

 
Case (I):- In a case of liquid (e.g. Kerosene) partially wets the solid, resultant adhesive force AP between liquid

 
and solid acting on a molecule A is stronger than resultant cohesive force AQ between liquid molecules.

 
Therefore resultant force of AP and AQ . AR lies inside the solid, fig. (a). In equilibrium state, the tangent AT to
the liquid surface, must be perpendicular to the resultant force. Therefore liquid molecules like A creeps upwards
on the solid surface. Hence the liquid surface in contact with solid is concave upwards and angle of contact is
acute.
Case (II):- In a case of the liquid (eg. mercury) which does not wet the solid the resultant adhesive force AP 
between liquid and solid on a molecule A is smaller than resultant cohesive force lies inside the liquid fig. (b). In
equilibrium state, the tangent AT to the liquid surface is perpendicular to the resultant force AR. Therefore liquid
molecules like A creeps downwards on the solid surface hence the liquid surface in contact with solid is convex
upwards and angle of contact is obtuse.

Case (III):- In a case of the liquid (pure water) which completely wets the solid, the resultant adhesive force AP
acting on molecule A is very strong and resultant cohesive force AQ can be neglected therefore their resultant
force lies along AP fig. (c). In equilibrium state, the free surface of water is always perpendicular to resultant
force AR acting on molecule A. The only force acting on molecule A is gravitational force acting vertically
downwards and thus angle of contact is zero for pure water and clean glass.

 Shape of a liquid drop:-

Suppose small quantity of liquid is dropped on plane solid surface, its surface phenomenon shows a force of
surface tension acting along a surface separating any two media. There is formation of liquid drop when it is in
equilibrium. It depends on force of interface media. Thus there is surface tension along a surface between (a)
liquid and air (b) solid and air and (c) liquid and solid.

(a) (a)

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Let  be angle of contact of give solid-liquid pair.
T1 = Force due to surface tension at the liquid-solid interface,
T2 = Force due to surface tension at the air-solid interface,
T3 = Force due to surface tension at the air-liquid interface.
For the equilibrium of the drop
T2 = T1 + T3 cos 
T2  T1
i.e. cos 
T3

From this equation we get following cases:-

(1) If T2 > T1, and T2 – T1 < T3, cos  is positive and angle of contact  is acute. Fig (b).
(2) If T2 < T1, and T1 – T2 < T3, cos  is negative and angle of contact  is obtuse. Fig. (a).
(3) If T2 – T1 = T3, cos  = 1 and ‘’ is nearly equal to zero.
(4)If T2 – T1 > T3 or T2 > T1 + T3, cos  > 1 which is impossible, liquid is spread over the solid surface and drop
shall not be formed.
 Excess pressure inside a drop and bubble :-
1. Consider a drop of radius r, then Initial surface area (A1) = 4r2
2. Let internal and external pressure P and P0 respectively, so that excess pressure is = (P1 – P0)
3. Let the radius of the drop increases from r to r + dr is
very small as shows in fig., so that the inside pressure
remains almost constant.
4. Final surface area (A2) is

A 2  4  r  dr 
2

 4  r 2  2rdr  dr 2 
 4 r 2  8 r dr  4 dr 2
As dry is very small,  dr2 is neglected i.e. 4dr2  0, A2 = 4r2 + 8r dr
5. Change in surface area (dA).
dA = A2 – A1
= 4r2 + 8rdr – 4r2 = 8r dr
6. So by definition of surface energy,
W = T  dA
= T  8rdr …..(i)
7. Work done to increase the surface area is
W = F dr
= (PA) dr (as P = F/A)
W = 4r2Pdr (as A = 4r2) …(ii)

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8. Equating eqn (i) and eqn (ii), we get
4r2 P dr = 8rdr
2T
P 
R
But P = Pi – Po
2T
 Pi  Po 
r
This is called Laplace’s law of a spherical drop.
For bubble:-
In case of soap bubble there are two free surface in contact with air.
Hence the total increase in surface area is
dA = 2(8rdr) = 10 rdr
10. So by definition of surface energy,
V = T  dA = T  16 rdr …(iii)
Work done due to excess pressure
W = P  4 r2dr …(iv)
Equating eqn (iii) and eqn (iv) we get,
T  16r dr = P  4r2 dr
4T
P 
r

4T
Hence Pi  Po 
r
This is called Laplace’s law of a spherical bubble.
Q. 12 A bubble of diameter 8 mm is formed in the air; the surface tension of soap solution is 30 dyne /cm. Calculate the
excess pressure inside the bubble.
Q.13 Find the difference of pressure between inside and outside of a spherical drop of water of radium 1 mm.
 Capillarity and capillary action:-
Capillary tube :-
A glass tube having bore of very small diameter is called a capillary tube.
Capillarity :-
The rise and fall of a liquid inside a capillary tube when it is dipped in the liquid is called capillarity.
Cause of Capillarity :
1. Suppose that a capillary tube is dipped into water, which completely wets the capillary.
2. When capillary tube is dipped in water, the water surface inside the
capillary tube takes a concave shape as shown figure.

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3. Consider four points :
(i) Point A – just above curved surface inside the capillary
(ii) Point B – just below curved surface inside the capillary
(iii) Point C – just above plane surface outside the capillary
(iv) Point D – just below plane surface but outside the capillary
4. Let PA, PB, PC and PD be the values of pressure at the points A, B, C and D respectively.
5. From figure, PA = PC = atmospheric pressure. The pressure is the same on both sides of the plane surface
of a liquid.
i.e. PC = PD
 PA = PD
The pressure on the concave side is greater than the pressure on convex side.
 PA > PB
But PA = PD
 PD > PB
6. But for a liquid, pressure is same at all points on the same horizontal level. Therefore, PD must equal to
PB.
But, we have PD > PB. So, equilibrium is not achieved.
7. To achieve equilibrium, liquid rises in capillary, till PB becomes equal to PD. This is the reason why
liquid rises inside the capillary tube.
 Height Ascended or descended in Capillary tube :
1. Consider a capillary tube open at both the ends and dipped in a liquid.
2. Liquid wets the walls of the tube. Therefore, angle of contact is acute and meniscus is concave.

3. Let
R = radius of capillary tube T = surface tension of liquid  = angle of contact
4. Surface tension acts along the tangent to the meniscus at point A and B.
5. According to Newton’s third law, the tube exerts equal and opposite reaction R ( = T).
6. The reaction R ( = T) can be resolved in two components.
(i) T cos , acting upward along the wall tube which is responsible for rise of liquid in capillary tube.
(ii) T sin , acting perpendicular to the wall tube.

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7. The component T cos  acts along the wall circumference of the meniscus. Since surface tension is the
force acting unit length.
 Total   circumference 
  upward   T cos   of circle of 
 force   contact 
   

F  T cos  2 r .....(i)

8. Let
h = rise of liquid in the capillary tube  = density of liquid G = acceleration due to gravity
 weight 
  of light   m  g
 column 
 
 V  g m  V  
 weight 
  of liquid    r 2 h    g ......(ii)
 column 
 

9. For equilibrium of liquid column, equation (i) and equation (ii) must be equal.
T cos  2 r   r 2 h g
h gr
T or
2cos 

2T cos 
h
 gr

This expression is called ascent formula.

NOTE: (i) If  < 900, cos  = +ve, then h is positive. Hence, when angle of contact is acute, liquid will rise in the tube.
e.g. kerosene in contact with glass.
(ii) If  > 900, cos  = –ve, then h is negative. Hence, when angle of contact is obtuse, liquid will depressed in the
tube.
e.g. mercury in contact with glass.
(iii) If  = 900, cos 900 = 0, then h = 0
Hence liquid neither rise nor depressed.
e.g. water in contact with silver.
(iv) From equation (iii) height (h) of liquid column in a capillary tube is
(a) directly proportional to S.T. of liquid
(b) inversely proportional to the density of liquid.
1
(c) inversely proportional to the radius if T, ,  and g are constant  h 
r

Thus, the liquid rises more in narrow tube and less in a wider tube. This is called Jurin’s law.
(v) Height of the rise of liquid column in a capillary tube at the surface of the moon is six times that at the surface
of the earth.
(vi) In absence of gravity, rise of liquid in capillary will be up to the top of the tube as the length is insufficient.

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Q.14 Find the force due to S.T. which balance the weight of the liquid column of height 1 cm in a capillary tube of
radius 0.04 cm. (Density of the liquid = 0.8 gm/cm3, angle of contact = 00)
Q.15 The height of water column in a clean capillary tube of glass of diameter 1 mm is 2.9 cm. Calculate the surface
tension of water. (Angle of contact for water and glass = 00 and density of water = 1 gm/cm3)
Q.16 Calculate the height which paraffin oil rises in a capillary tube of radius 0.5 mm. (Given: S.T. of paraffin oil
= 24.5  10–3 N/m, of constant of paraffin = 800 kg/m3 and angle of contact = 280)
Q.17 A capillary tube 2 mm in diameter is immersed in a beaker of mercury. The mercury level inside the tube is found
to be 0.5 cm below the level of the reservoir. Determine the contact angle between the mercury and the glass.
S.T. of mercury is 0.4 N/m and Density = 13.6  103 kg/m3.
Q.18 A certain liquid rises to a height 7 cm in a capillary tube of radius 0.6 mm. How far will it rise in capillary of
radius 2 mm.
Q.19 Water column inside a glass capillary tube is 4 cm long. Mercury surface in the same tube is depressed by 1.23
cm. Compare the surface tension of mercury with that of water.
Given : Density of water = 103 kg/m3
Density of mercury = 13.6  103 kg/m3
Angle of contact for water is 00 and Angle of contact for mercury is 1300.
 Effect of temperature on Surface Tension :
When temperature of a liquid is increased, then the distance between the liquid molecules increases. Due to
increase in distance, the cohesive forces of attraction between the molecules decreases

 ST of the liquid decreases. T  T0 1   t 

T = Surface tension at t0C T0 = Surface tension at 00C  = Temperature coefficient of ST.

Q.20 The surface tension of water at 00c is 72 dyne/cm. Find surface tension of water at 300C. ( for water = 0.0027/0c)

Home Work - 2
1. What should be the pressure inside a small air bubble of 0.1 mm radius situated just below the water surface?

Surface tension of water 7.2 10 2 Nm 1 and atmospheric pressure 1.013 105 N / m2 .

Ans: 1.027 103 N / m2
2. If excess pressure is balanced by that due to a column of oil (Specific gravity 0.8) 2 mm high where R 1.0 cm,
find surface tension of the soap bubble.
Ans: 3.92 10 2 Nm 1

3. The lower end of a capillary tube of diameter 2.0 mm is dipped 8.0 cm below the surface of water in a beaker.
What is the pressure required in the tube in order to blow a hemispherical bubble at its end in water? The surface
2 1
tension of water at the temperature of the experiment is 7.3 10 Nm ; 1atmosphere 1.01 105 Pa; density of
3
water = 1000 kg m and g 9.8 ms 2 .
5
Ans: 1.02 10 Pa

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4. A small hollow sphere having a small hole in it is immersed into water to a depth of 20 cm before any water
penetrates into it. If the surface tension of water is 73 dynes cm 1 , find the radius of the hole.
Ans: 0.0075 cm
5. Find the gauge pressure inside a soap bubble of diameter 5 cm. The surface tension of soap solution is
25 10 3 Nm 1 .
Ans: 4 Pa
6. A glass tube of 1 mm bore is dipped vertically into a container of mercury with its lower end 2 cm below the
mercury surface. What must be the gauge pressure of air in the tube in order to blow a hemispherical bubble at its

lower end? Given density of mercury 13600 kg m 3 and surface tension of mercury 35 10 3 Nm 1 .
Ans: 2805.6 Pa
7. Calculate the depth of water at which an air bubble of radius 0.4 mm any remain in equilibrium. Surface tension of

water 7 10 2 Nm 1 and g 9.8 ms 2 .

Ans: 3.57 cm
8. A small hollow sphere which has a small hole in it is immersed in water to a depth 40 cm before any water
penetrates into it. If the surface tension of water is 7.5 10 2 Nm 1 , find the radius of the hole.
Ans: 0.003827 cm
5
9. A soap bubble has a diameter of 4 mm. Calculate the pressure inside it if the atmospheric pressure is 10 Pa.

Surface tension of soap solution 2.8 10 2 Nm 1 .

5
Ans: 1.00056 10 Pa
10. Water rises in a capillary tube to a height of 2.0 cm. In another capillary tube whose radius is one-third of it, how
much the water will rise?
Ans: 6.0 cm
11. A glass U-tube is inverted with open ends of the straight limbs, of diameters respectively 0.5 mm and 1.0 mm,
below the surface of water in a beaker. The air pressure in the upper part is increased until the meniscus in one

limb is in level with the water outside. Find the height of water in the other limb. Density of water 1000 kg m 3
2 1
and surface tension of water is 7.5 10 Nm .
2
Ans: 3.1 10 m (app)
12. (i) Water rises to a height h inside a clean glass capillary tube of radius 0.2 mm when the tube is placed vertically
2 1
inside a beaker of water. Calculate h if the surface tension of water is 7.0 10 Nm and the angle of contact is
zero.
(ii) The tube is now pushed into water until 4.0 cm of its length is above the surface. Describe and explain what

happens. Density of water 1000 kg m 3 ; g 10 ms 2 .

2 0
Ans: (i) 7 10 m (ii) 55

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13. The radius of a capillary is 0.025 mm. It is held vertically is a liquid whose density is 0.8 103 kg m 3 , surface

tension is 3.0 10 2 Nm 1 and for which the cosine of angle of contact is 0.3. Determine the height to which the

liquid will rise in the tube relative to the liquid surface outside. Take g 10ms 2 .
Ans: 9 cm
14. A capillary tube whose inside radius is 0.5 mm is dipped in water having surface tension 7.5 10 2 Nm 1 . To
what height is the water raised above the normal water level? Angle of contact of water with glass is assumed to
be 00 .
Ans: 3 cm
15. Water rises up in a glass capillary upto a height of 9.0 cm while mercury falls down by 3.4 cm in the same
0 0
capillary. Assume angles of contact for water-glass and mercury-glass as 0 and 135 respectively. Determine the

ratio of surface tensions of mercury and water. Density of mercury 13.6 103 kg m 3 , density of water

103 kg m 3 .
Ans: 7.2:1
16. A capillary tube of radius 0.4 mm is dipped vertically in water. Find upto what height the water will rise in the
capillary. If the capillary is inclined at an angle of 600 with the vertical, how much length of the capillary is

occupied by water? Surface tension of water 7.0 10 2 Nm 1 , density of water 103 kg m 3 .

Ans: 3.57 cm; 7.14 cm
17. Liquid rises up in a glass capillary upto a height of 7.0 cm. The radius of the tube is 0.1 mm and density of liquid

is 0.8 103 kg m 3 . If the angle of contact between the liquid and the wall of the tube is zero, determine the
surface tension of the liquid.
3 1
Ans: 27.4 10 Nm

Level - 1

1. The potential energy of the molecules on the free surface of a liquid is

(a) minimum (b)maximum (c)zero (d)infinity
2. The surface tension of a liquid is 75 dynes/cm in C.G.S. system. In SI system this is expressed as
(a) 75 10 3 N/m (b)75 N/m (c) 75 103 N/m (d) 75 102 N/m
3. The radii of two mercury drops are R1 and R2 . Under isothermal conditions, a drop is formed from them. The radius

(R) of the resultant drop is given by

R1 R2
(a) R R1 R2 (b) R (c) R 3 R13 R23 (d) R 2 R12 R22
2

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4. The surface tension of a liquid is 5 10 2 N/m is SI system. In C.G.S. system it is expressed as
(a) 5 10 2 dyne/cm (b) 5 105 dyne/cm (c) 5 101 dyne/cm (d) 5 10 4 dyne/cm
5. A wire 10 cm long is placed horizontally on the surface of water. It is gently pulled up with a force of 1.4 10 2 N to
keep it in equilibrium. The surface tension of water is
(a) 50 dyne/cm (b)60 dyne/cm (c)70 dyne/cm (d)40 dyne/cm
6. What is the potential energy of a soap film formed on a frame of area 5 10 3 m 2 ? The surface tension of soap
solution is 30 10 3 N/m.
(a) 2 10 4 J (b) 2.5 10 4 J (c) 3 10 4 J (d) 5 10 4 J
7. What is the force required to take away a flat circular plate of radius 2 cm from the surface of water?
22
T 70 10 3 N/m. Use 
7
(a) 4.4 10 4 N (b) 6.6 10 3 N (c) 8.8 10 3 N (d) 11 10 3 N
8. The energy needed for breaking a drop of radius R into n drops each of radius r is
4 T 4
(a) 4 T nr 2 R2 (b) nr 2 R2 (c) 4 T R 2 nr 2 (d)  T R 3 nr 3
3 3
9. A spherical water drop of radius R is split up into 8 equal droplets. If T is the surface tension of water, then the work
done in this process is
(a) 4 R 2T (b) 8 R 2T (c) 3 R 2T (d) 2 R 2T
10. What is the change in surface energy, when a mercury drop of radius R splits up into 1000 droplets of radius r?
[The surface tension of mercury is T]
(a) 8 R 2T (b) 16 R 2T (c) 24 R 2T (d) 36 R 2T
11. If the surface tension of a liquid is 5 N/m, then the surface energy of the liquid film on a ring of area 0.15 m 2 is
(a) 1.5 J (b)3.0 J (c)2.25 J (d)0.75 J
12. The surface tension of water 72 10 3 Jm 2 . The work done in splitting a drop of water of 1 mm radius into 64
droplets is
(a) 2 10 6 J (b) 2.7 10 6 J (c) 4 10 6 J (d) 6.4 10 6 J
13. What is the force required to separate two glass plates each of area 10 2 m 2 with a film of water 0.05 mm thick
between them? (Surface tension of water is 70 10 3 N/m)
(a) 50N (b)28N (c)38N (d)14N
14. Small droplets of a liquid are usually more spherical in shape than the larger drops of the same liquid because
(a) the force of gravity and the force of S.T. act in the same direction and are equal
(b)the force of gravity predominates the force of S.T.
(c) the force of S.T. predominates the force of gravity
(d)the force of S.T. is equal and opposite to the force of gravity

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15. What is ratio of surface energies of 1 small drop and 1 large drop, if 1000 small drops are combined to from 1 large
drop?
(a) 1:100 (b)10:1 (c)100:1 (d)1000:1
16. A thin liquid film formed between a U-shaped wire and a light slider supports a weight of
1.5 10 2 N (see figure). The length of the slider is 30 cm and its weight is negligible.
The surface tension of the liquid film is
(a)0.1 N/m (b)0.05 N/m (c)0.025 N/m (d)0.0125 N/m
17. Molecules on the surface of a liquid in equilibrium possess
(a) minimum K.E. (b)maximum P.E. (c)minimum P.E. (d)maximum K.E.
18. A film of water is formed between two straight parallel wires of length 10 cm each, separated by 0.5 cm. If their
separation is to be increased by 1 mm, while still maintaining their parallelism, how much work will have to be

done? [T 7.2 10 2 N / m]
(a) 7.22 10 6 J (b) 1.44 10 5 J (c) 2.88 10 5 J (d) 5.76 10 5 J
19. Two small drops of mercury each of radius R coalesce to form a single drop. The ratio of the total surface energies
before and after the change is
(a) 1:2 (b)2:1 (c) 1: 21/3 (d) 21/3 :1
20. A disc of radius R has a concentric hole of radius r. It is floating on a liquid of surface tension T. What is the force of
surface tension on the disc?

(a) 4 R r T (b) 4 R r T (c) 2 R r T (d) 2 R r T

21. A water drop of radius R is split into n smaller drops, each of radius r. If T is the surface tension of water, then the
work done in this process is
4 1 1 3 1 1 1 1 1 1
(a)  R 3T (b)  R 3T (c) 4 R T
3
(d) 6 R T
2

3 r R 4 R r r R R r
22. Which is the fundamental unit that has the same power in the dimensional formula of surface tension and coefficient
of viscosity?
(a) temperature (b)time (c)length (d)mass
23. A wooden stick 2 m long is floating on the surface of water. The surface tension of water is 0.07 N/m. By putting
soap on one side of the stick, the surface tension of water is reduced to 0.06 N/m. What is the net force on the stick?
(a) 0.06 N (b)0.01 N (c)0.02 N (d)0.07 N
24. A thin metal disc of radius r floats on water surface and bends the surface downwards along the perimeter making an
angle  with the vertical edge of the disc. The weight of water displaced by the disc is W and the surface tension of
water is T. What is the weight of the metal disc?
(a) W 2 rT cos (b) 2 rT W (c) 2 rT cos W (d) 2 rT cos W

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25. A certain number of spherical drops of a liquid of radius ‘r’ coalesce to form a single drop of radius ‘R’ and volume
‘V’. If ‘T’ is the surface tension of the liquid, then:
1 1
(a) energy = 3VT is released (b)energy is neither released nor absorbed
r R
1 1 1 1
(c) energy = 4VT is released (d)energy = 3VT is absorbed
r R r R
26. n droplets of equal size and each of radius r coalesce to form a bigger drop of radius R. The energy liberated is equal
to (T = surface tension of water)

(a) 4 R 2T n1/3 1 (b) 4 r 2T n1/3 1 (c) 4 R 2T n 2/3 1 (d) 4 r 2T n 2/3 1

27. A liquid rises to a height of 10 cm in a capillary tube of height 16 cm and radius 1 mm, above the liquid level. If the
tube is cut at a height of 8 cm, then
(a) the liquid will come out as a fountain from the capillary tube
(b)liquid will flow down from the sides of the tube
(c) the liquid will rise only upto a height 5 cm in the capillary
(d)the liquid will not flow out but the liquid surface will flatten out at the open end of the capillary
28. A capillary tube when immersed vertically in a liquid records a rise of 3 cm. If the tube is immersed in the liquid at
an angle of 600 with the vertical, then the length of the liquid column along the tube will be
(a) 3 cm (b)4 cm (c)5 cm (d)6 cm
29. Water rises in a vertical capillary tube upto 10 cm. If the tube is made inclined to the liquid surface at 450 , then the
water will rise in the tube upto a length equal to
10
(a) cm (b) 10 2 cm (c)10 cm (d)20 cm
2
30. Two capillary tubes P and Q are dipped in water. The height of water level in the capillary P is 2/3 the height in
capillary Q. The ratio of their diameters is
(a) 3:2 (b)2:3 (c)3:4 (d)4:3
31. Two vertical parallel glass plates, separated by 0.5 mm, are kept in water. The surface tension of water is
7 10 2 N / m . How high will the water rise between the plates? (use g = 10 m / s 2 )
(a) 1.4 cm (b)2 cm (c)2.8 cm (d)3.5 cm
32. In a surface tension experiment, with a capillary tube water rises upto a height of 5 cm. in the capillary tube. If the
same experiment is repeated in an artificial satellite, revolving around the earth, then the water will rise in the
capillary tube upto a height equal to
(a) 3 cm (b) 6 cm (c)9.8 cm (d) full length of the capillary tube
33. Choose the wrong statement from the following
(a) small droplets of a liquid are spherical due to surface tension
(b)Oil rises through the wick due to capillary

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(c) in drinking the cold drinks through a straw, we use the phenomenon of capillary
(d)Gum is used to stick two surface. In this process we use the property of adhesion.
34. A liquid kept in a glass vessel. If the liquid solid adhesive force between the liquid and the vessel is very weak as
compared to the cohesive force in the liquid, then the shape of the liquid surface near the solid should be
(a) Concave (b)Convex (c)Horizontal (d)Almost vertical
35. Water rises in a capillary tube upto a height ‘h’ so that the upward force due to S.T. is balanced by the force due to
the weight of the water column. If this force is 90 dyne and surface tension of water is 6 10 2 N/m, then the inner
circumference of the capillary must be
(a) 0.75 10 2 m (b) 1.5 10 2 m (c) 15 10 2 m (d) 0.5 10 2 m
36. Two capillary tubes of the same diameter are kept vertically in two liquids whose densities are in the ratio 4:3. What

h1
is the ratio of the heights in the two capillary tubes if their surface tensions are in the ratio of 6:5? [Assume
h2
that their angles of contact are equal]
10 9 5 10
(a) (b) (c) (d)
9 10 10 7
37. The radius of a capillary tube is 1.4 mm. Water of weight 6.28 10 4 N rises in the capillary tube, when it is dipped
vertically in water. What is the surface tension of water?
(a) 7 N/m (b) 7 10 1 N / m (c) 7 10 3 N / m (d) 7 10 2 N / m
38. Water rises upto a height h in a capillary tube on the surface of the earth. The value of h increases, if the capillary
tube, apparatus is kept
(a) in a lift going upward with acceleration (b)on the sun
(c) in a lift going downward with acceleration (a) where a < g (d) on the poles
39. A glass plate is partly dipped vertically in mercury and the angle of contact is measured. If the plate is made inclined
to the vertical, then the angle of contact will
(a) Decrease (b)Increase (c)Remain unchanged (d)Increase or decrease
40. A vessel, whose bottom has around holes, each of diameter of 0.1 mm, is filled with water. What is the maximum
height to which water can be filled without leakage? ( S.T. of water = 75 dyne/cm, g = 1000 cm/ s 2 )
(a) 30 cm (b)50 cm (c)75 cm (d)100 cm
41. In which one of the following phenomena capillary action is not used?
(a) wick dipped in oil (b)absorption of ink by the blotting paper
(c) floating of a wooden cork on water (d)ploughing of the farm
42. A liquid rises to a height of 3.6 cm in a capillary tube of radius r. If the radius of the capillary tube is made 0.75 r,
then the height to which the liquid will rise in the capillary tube is
(a) 3.6 cm (b)2.4 cm (c)4.8 cm (d)1.8 cm

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43. Two parallel glass plates separated by a small distance x are dipped partly in a liquid of density ‘d’ keeping them
vertical. The surface tension of the liquid id T and angle of contact is  . What is the rise of the liquid between the
plates due to capillarity?
2T cos  2T T cos  T cos 
(a) (b) (c) (d)
xdg xdg cos  xdg xd
44. A liquid rises to a height of 1.8 cm in a glass capillary ‘A’. Another glass capillary ‘B’ having diameter 90% of
capillary ‘A’ is immersed in the same liquid. The rise of the liquid in the capillary ‘B’ is
(a) 1.4 cm (b)1.8 cm (c)2.0 cm (d)2.2 cm
45. Water rises to a height h in a capillary tube. If the length of the capillary tube above the surface of water is made less
than h, then
(a) water rises upto a point a little below the top and stays there
(b)water does not rise at all
(c) water rises upto the tip of capillary tube and then starts overflowing like a fountain
(d)water rises upto the top of capillary tube and stays there without overflowing
46. The wettability of a surface by a liquid depends primarily on
(a) Viscosity (b)surface tension (c)density (d)angle of contact between the surface and the liquid
47. Water rises upto a height of 4 cm in a capillary tube. The lower end of the capillary tube is at a depth of 8 cm below
the water level. The mouth pressure required to blow an air bubble at the lower end of the capillary will be X cm of
water, where X is equal to
(a) 8 cm (b)10 cm (c)6 cm (d) 12 cm
48. Water rises upto a height 10 cm in a capillary tube. It will rise to a height which is much more than 10 cm in a very
long capillary tube if the appearance is kept
(a)on the surface of the moon (b)in a lift moving up with an acceleration
(c)at the north pole (d)on the equator
49. A capillary tube having 1 mm and 2.5 mm as internal and external radii hangs vertically from the arm of a balance.
The lower end of the tube just touches a liquid of surface tension 40 dyne/cm. If the angle of contact is zero, then the
change in weight due to surface tension is
(a) 4.4 10 4 N (b) 8.8 10 4 N (c) 2.2 10 4 N (d) 3.3 10 4 N
50. Pure water rises through a height h in a capillary tube of internal radius (r). If T is the S.T. of water, then the pressure
difference between the water level in the container and the lowest point of the concave meniscus is
T r 2T r
(a) (b) (c) (d)
r T r 2T
51. A 20 cm long capillary tube is dipped in water. The water rises upto 8 cm in the tube. If the entire arrangement is
kept in a freely falling elevator, the length of water column in the tube will be
(a) 4 cm (b)10 cm (c)16 cm (d)20 cm

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52. For which of the two pairs, the angle of contact is of the same nature?
(a) Water and glass, glass and alcohol (b)Silver and water, water and chromium
(c) Water and glass, glass and mercury (d)Silver and water, mercury and glass
53. A capillary tube of radius r is dipped in a liquid of density  and surface tension T. If the angle of contact is  , then
the pressure difference between the two liquid surfaces in the beaker and the capillary is
2T T 2T T
(a) cos  (b) (c) (d) cos 
r r cos  r cos  r
54. Water rises in a capillary tube to a certain height such that the upward force to surface tension is balanced by
75 10 4 N force due to the weight of the water. The surface tension of water is 6 10 2 N / m . What is the inner
circumference of the capillary tube?
(a) 6.5 10 2 m (b) 12.5 10 2 m (c) 1.25 10 2 m (d) 0.50 10 2 m
55. Water rises to a height of 10 cm in a capillary tube and mercury falls to a depth of 3.42 cm in the same tube. If the
density of mercury is 13.6 gram/cc and the angle of contact is 1350 , then the ratio of surface tensions of water and

mercury is _____ [  for glass and water is 00 and cos1350 0.7071 ]

(a) 1:2 (b)1:13.6 (c)1:3.42 (d)1:6.58
56. The height upto which water will rise in a capillary tube will be
(a) minimum when the temperature of water is 4 0 C (b)maximum when the temperature of water is 4 0 C
(c)minimum when the temperature of water is 00 C (d)the same at all temperatures
57. A Capillary tube of radius ‘r’ is immersed in water and water rises in it upto a height h. The mass of water lifted in
the capillary tube is 5 g. Another capillary tube of radius 2r is immersed in water. What is the mass of water that will
rise in the second tube?
(a)5.0 g (b)10 g (c)20 g (d)2.5 g
58. The lower end of a capillary tube of radius r cm is placed vertically in water. What is the heat evolved if water rises
upto a height h in the capillary tube?

 2 r 2 h2 g  2 r 2 h2 g  2 r 2 h2 g  r 2h2 g
(a) (b) (c) (d)
J J 2J 2J
59. Two narrow tubes of diameters 3.0 mm and 6.0 mm are joined together to form a U-shaped tube open at both ends. If
the U-tube contains water, what is the difference in water levels in the two limbs of the U tube? Surface tension of
water at the temperature of the experiment is 7.5 10 2 N/m. Take the angle of contact to be zero and density of

water to be 1.0 103 kg / m3 . (Take g = 10 m / s 2 )

(a) 4 mm (b)5 mm (c)8 mm (d)3 mm
60. Water rises to a height of 2 cm in a capillary tube. The angle of contact is zero. The tube is now depressed further so
that its length above the surface of water is only 1 cm. What is the new apparent angle of contact?
(a) 300 (b) 600 (c) 00 (d) 900

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61. Water rises upto a height x in a capillary tube immersed vertically in water. When this whole arrangement is taken to
x
a depth d in a mine, the water level rises upto rises upto a height y. If R is the radius of the earth, then the ratio is
y
given by
d d R d R d
(a) 1 (b) 1 (c) (d)
R R R d R d
0 0 0
62. The angle of contact at the interface of water-glass is 0 , ethyl alcohol-glass is 0 , mercury-glass is 140 and
0
methyliodide-glass is 30 . A glass capillary is put in a through containing one of these four liquids. It is observed
that the meniscus is convex. The liquid in the through is
(a) Water (b)Ethyl alcohol (c)Mercury (d)Methyl iodide
63. Washing soap is used for cleaning the clothes, because
(a) it absorbs dirt (b)it increases the surface tension of the solution
(c) it reduces the surface tension of the solution (d)it increases the viscosity of the liquid
64. If a detergent is dissolved in water, the surface tension of water
(a) remains constant (b)increases (c)decreases (d)becomes zero
65. When the temperature of a liquid is increased, following changes take place in the surface tension (T) and angle of
contact  .

(a) Both T and  are increased (b)Both T and  are decreased

(c) T is increased but  is decreased (d)T is decreased but  is increased
66. The work done in blowing a soap bubble of radius R is W. The work done in making a bubble of radius 2 R from the
same soap solution is:
(a) 2W (b)4W (c)W/4 (d)W/2
67. A square frame of side L is dipped in a soap solution. When it is taken out of the solution, a film is formed on it. If
the surface tension is T, then force acting on it is:
(a)2TL (b)16TL (c)4TL (d)8TL
68. The work done in blowing a soap bubble of 10 cm radius is (surface tension of soap bubble = 3/100 N/m)
4 4 4
(a) 75.36 10 J (b) 75.36 J (c) 37.68 10 J (d) 150.72 10 J
4
69. Work of 3 10 J is required to be done in increasing the size of a soap film from 10cm 6cm to10cm 11cm . The
surface tension of the film is
2 2 2 2
(a) 1.5 10 N / m (b) 5 10 N / m (c) 3 10 N / m (d) 6 10 N / m
70. If T is the surface tension of a soap solution, then the work done in blowing a soap bubble from diameter D to
diameter 2D is given by

(a) 2 TD (b) 4 TD (c) 6 TD (d) 8 TD

2 2 2 2

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1 2
71. When the radius of a soap bubble is increased from cm to cm, the work done is 720 erg. The surface
 
tension of soap solution is
(a) 30 dyne/cm (b)20 dyne/cm (c)15 dyne/cm (d)40 dyne/cm
72. Two spherical soap bubble of radii r1 and r2 coalesce under isothermal conditions. What is the resultant radius?

r1 r2 1/2 r1 r2
(a) r1 r2 (b) (c) r12 r22 (d)
2 r1r2
73. Two soap bubble of radii 4 cm and 3 cm respectively coalesce under isothermal condition to form a single bubble.
What is the radius of the new single bubble?
(a) 3 cm (b)4 cm (c)5 cm (d)6 cm
74. A sheet can be made water proof by coating it with a substance that changes the angle of contact

(a) to (b)to zero (c)from acute to obtuse (d)from obtuse to acute
2
75. W is the work done, when a bubble of volume V is formed from a solution. How much work is required to be done
to form a bubble of volume 2V?
(a) 2W (b)W (c) 21/3 W (d) 41/3 W
3
76. A spherical drop of water has a diameter of 2 mm. If the surface tension of water is 70 10 N/m, then the
difference of pressure between the inside and outside of the spherical drop is
2 2 2 2
(a) 70 N / m (b)90 N / m (c)110 N / m (d)140 N / m
77. At critical temperature, the surface tension of a liquid
(a) is infinity (b)is zero (c)cannot be determined (d)is the same as that at any other temperature
78. If the excess pressure inside a soap bubble of radius 5 mm is equal to the pressure of water column of height 0.8 cm,
then the surface tension of the soap solution will be
2 3
(a) 980 N/m (b) 98 10 N/m (c) 98 10 N/m (d)98 N/m
79. When a soap bubble is charged
(a) it expands (b)it contracts (c)it does not undergo any change is size
(d)it may expand or contract, depending upon whether the charge is positive or negative
80. The surface tension of pure water is measured at different temperatures. It is found that the surface tension is
minimum when the temperature of water is
0 0 0 0
(a) 20 C (b) 40 C (c) 70 C (d) 30 C
81. When one end of a capillary tube is dipped vertically in water, the pressure below the meniscus of water is
(a) more than upper side pressure (b)lesser than upper side pressure
(c)equal to atmospheric (d)equal to upper side pressure

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82. A long cylindrical glass vessel has a small hole of radius ‘r’ at its bottom. The depth to which the vessel can be
lowered vertically in a deep water bath (surface tension T) without any water entering inside is
T 2T 3T 4T
(a) (b) (c) (d)
 rg  rg  rg  rg
83. The surface tension of soap solution is 0.030 N/m. What is the energy needed to increase the radius of a soap bubble
from 4 cm to 6 cm?
3 2 2 4
(a) 1.5 10 J (b) 1.5 10 J (c) 3 10 J (d) 1.5 10 J
84. Work done is increasing the size of a soap bubble from a radius of 3 cm to 5 cm is nearly (surface tension of soap
solution = 0.03 N/m)
(a) 4 mJ (b) 0.2 mJ (c) 2 mJ (d) 0.4 mJ
85. When NaCl is added to water, the surface tension of water will
(a) decrease (b)remains same (c)increase (d)nothing can be said
86. With an increase in temperature, surface tension of a liquid (except molten cadmium and copper)
(a) decreases (b)remains constant (c)first increases and then decreases (d)increases
87. If two soap bubbles of equal radii (r and r) coalesce, then the radius of curvature of the interface between the two
bubbles will be
r
(a) 0 (b)2r (c) (d)infinity
2
88. W1 is the work done in blowing a soap bubble of radius r from a soap solution at room temperature. The soap

solution is then heated and second soap bubble of radius 2r is blown from the heated solution. If W2 is the work done

in forming the second bubble, then

(a) W2 2W1 (b) W2 2W1 (c) W2 4W1 (d) W2 4W1
89. The adjoining diagram shows three soap bubbles A, B and C prepared by blowing in the capillary tube fitted with
stopcocks S1 , S2 and S 3 . Then the stopcocks S is closed and stopcocks S1 , S2 and S 3 are opened, so that the air can

move freely in the bubbles and the capillary.

(a) both C and A will start collapsing with size of B increasing
(b)sizes of A, B and C will become equal at equilibrium
(c) B will start collapsing with sizes of A and C increasing
(d)C will start collapsing with sizes of A and B increasing
0 2 1 3
90. The surface tension and vapour pressure of water at 20 C are 7.28 10 Nm and 2.33 10 Pa respectively. What
0
is the radius of the smallest spherical water droplet which can be formed without evaporating at 20 C ?
3 2 4 5
(a) 6.25 10 mm (b) 6.25 10 mm (c) 5 10 m (d) 4.5 10 m

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Level - 1

1. The mutual force of attraction between the molecules of the same material is called
(a) a cohesive force (b) an adhesive force (c)the surface tension (d) the tensile force.
2. The mutual force of attraction between two molecules of different materials is called
(a) a cohesive force (b) an adhesive force (c)the surface tension (d) the tensile force.
3. In the case of solids and liquids, the range of molecular attractions is of the order of
(a) 10–8 cm (b)10–7 cm (c)10–3 cm (d)10–2 cm
4. The radius of the sphere of influence for cohesive force is called the
(a) critical range (b) yield point (c)molecular range (d) molecular diameter
5. Rain drops or liquid drops are spherical in shape, especially when small, because
(a) cohesive force between the molecules of water have spheres of influence
(b) for a given volume, a spherical drop has the least surface energy
(c) for a given volume, a spherical drop has the maximum surface energy
(d) the pressure inside a drop is many times the atmospheric pressure
6. The net force acting on the molecules of a liquid is maximum on a molecule
(a) at the bottom of the container (b) on the liquid surface
(c) in the middle of the container (d) just inside the liquid surface
7. The surface energy of a liquid is
(a) the kinetic energy of the liquid molecules
(b) The potential energy of the liquid surface
(c) the sum of the potential energy and kinetic energy of the liquid molecules
(d) the difference between the potential energy and kinetic energy of the liquid molecules.
8. Consider the following statements
(I) The surface of a liquid behaves like a stretched membrane.
(II) Just as any extension of the area of a membrane increases the tension in the membrane, the surface tension of a
liquid, too depends upon the area of the surface. Of these,
(a) only (I) is correct (b) only (II) is correct (c)both are correct (d) both are wrong.
9. The surface tension acts
(a) perpendicular to the surface and vertically upwards
(b) perpendicular to the surface and vertically into the liquid
(c) tangential to the surface
(d) only at the liquid – solid interface.
10. The dimensions of surface tension are
(a) [MLT–2] (b) [MT–2] (c)[ML–2] (d) [MLT–]
11. The surface tension of 0.07 N/m is the same as
(a) 0.7 dyn/cm (b) 7 dyn/cm (c)0.7 dyn/cm (d) 700 dyn/cm

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12. A thin steel needle of length L placed carefully on water surface sinks because the force due to surface tension is half
its weight. If a steel needle of the same mass but twice the length is equally carefully placed on the same water
surface,
(a) it will still sink (b) it will just float on the surface
(c) it will breach the surface film and float below (d) nothing can be predicated.
13. The arranged in decreasing order of surface tension at a given temperature are
(a) mercury, oil, water (b) oil, water, mercury (c)oil, mercury, water (d) mercury, water, oil.
14. A square framed wire of side L is dipped in a liquid and taken out. A thin membrane of the liquid is formed. If the
surface tension of the liquid is T, the force acting on the frame is
(a) TL (b) 2TL (c) 4TL (d) 8TL
15. The flat face of a glass plate is brought into contact with water in a dish and then pulled up vertically until the plate
breaks free from the water surface. Then,
(I) water is found clinging to the underside of the plate showing that the break came between water molecules only
(II) the adhesive forces between glass and water molecules exceed the cohesive forces between water molecules
(a) (I) is the correct observation but (II) is not its correct reasoning.
(b) (II) is correct but statement (I)is not what is observed.
(c) (I) is the correct observation and (II) is the correct reasoning.
(d) Both (I) and (II) are grossly wrong.
16. A square plate of glass of side 7.2 cm and thickness 2 mm has its thin edge touching a liquid surface. If the surface
tension of the liquid is 20 dyn/cm. the force due to surface tension on the glass plate is
(a) 148 dynes (b) 296 dynes (c)368 dynes (d) 2960 dynes
17. A thin ring of diameter 8 cm is pulled out of water (surface tension 0.07 N/m). The force required to break free the
ring from water is
(a) 0.0088 N (b) 0.0176 N (c)0.0352 N (d) 3.52 N
18. A matchstick 5 cm long floats on water. The water film has a surface tension of 70 dyn/cm. A little camphor put on
one side of the stick reduces the surface tension there to 50 dyn/cm. The net force on the matchstick is
(a) 4 dynes (b) 10 dynes (c)100 dynes (d) 600 dynes
19. A rectangular soap film is 5 cm long and 4cm wide. If the work done in increasing its area to 7cm  5cm is 0.06 J,
the surface tension of the soap solution is
(a) 0.2 J/m2 (b) 2 J/m2 (c)20 J/m2 (d) 72 J/m2
20. A rectangular plate of dimensions 6 cm by 4 cm and thickness 2 mm is placed with its largest face flat on the surface
of water. The force due to surface tension on the plate is
(a) 1728 dynes (b) 1440 dynes (c)720 dynes (d) 288 dynes
21. For a liquid of surface tension T, the area of its surface is increased by A. The corresponding increase in its surface
potential energy is
A T AT
(a) (b) AT (c) (d)
T A 2

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Physics Surface Tension
22. A rectangular soap film of 10cm  5cm is stretched to 10 cm  8 cm. If the surface tension of the soap solution is
30dyn/cm, the work done in stretching the film is
(a) 3.6 104 J (b) 1.8 104 J (c) 1.2  104 J (d) 0.9 104 J
23. In the absence of gravity of other external forces, a liquid drop assumes a spherical shape in order to
(a) minimize its volume (b) minimize its surface area for a given volume
(c) minimize the pressure difference across its surface (d) maximize the excess pressure inside the drop
24. Under isothermal conditions, the work done in blowing a soap bubble of radius r and surface tension T is
(a)  r2 T (b) 2  r2 T (c)4 r2 T (d) 8 r2 T
25. The radius r of a soap bubble is doubled under isothermal conditions. If T is the surface tension of the soap solution,
the work done in this process is
(a) 12 r2 T (b)16 r2 T (c)24  r2 T (d)321 r2 T
26. Under isothermal conditions, the work done in increasing the radius of a soap bubble in air from 1 cm to 2 cm, given
the surface tension of soap solution is 30 dyn/cm, is about
(a) 1200 ergs (b) 2200 ergs (c)3000 ergs (d) 4000 ergs
27. If W is the work done in forming a bubble of volume V from a bubble of volume 2V is
(a) (2)1/3 W (b) (2)2/3 W (c)W (d) 2W.
28. Under isothermal conditions, the work done in increasing the radius of a soap bubble in air from 2 cm to 3 cm, given
the surface tension of soap solution is 30 dyn /cm, is about
(a) 360 ergs (b) 1800 ergs. (c)3600 ergs (d) 7200 ergs.
29. If the surface tension of a soap solution is 2.7 102 N / m, the energy to blow a soap bubble of diameter 6 cm is

(a) 50.9 104 J (b) 6.10 104 J (c) 3.05 104 J (d) 1.53 104 J
30. Two small drops of mercury are brought in contact. Then,
(a) it is energetically favorable that the drops coalesce into a single larger drop
(b) work must be done to make the drops coalesce into a single larger drop
(c) the drops coalesce into a single drop without any change in surface energy
(d) none of the above
31. If ten liquid drops coalesce to from a single drop, then
(a) energy is absorbed
(b) energy is liberated
(c)energy may be absorbed or liberated
(d)energy is neither absorbed nor liberated.
32. If a liquid drop breaks into several drops, then
(a) energy is absorbed
(b) energy is liberated
(c) energy may be absorbed or liberated
(d)energy is neither absorbed nor liberated.

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33. When a drop of mercury splits up into a number of drops,
(a) the surface area decreases (b) the volume increases (c) energy is liberated (d) energy is absorbed
34. 1000 water droplets of the same size combine to form a single drop. The ration of the final potential energy to the
initial potential energy is
(a) 1 : 1000 (b) 1 : 10 (c)10 : 1 (d) 1000 : 1
35. The surface energy of a liquid drop is E. If the drop is broken into 1000 droplets of equal radii, the total surface
energy becomes
(a) 100 E (b) 10 E (c)0.1 E (d) 0.01 E
36. When n drops of a liquid, each of radius r, coalesce to from a single drop of radius R, n is equal to
(a) 4 (r2 – R2) T (b) (r / R)3 (c)(R / r)3 (d) T/ 4  (r2 – R2)
37. The work done in breaking a spherical drop of a liquid (surface tension T) of radius R into 8 equal drops is
(a)  R2 T (b) 2R2 T (c)3R2 T (d) 4R2 T
38. Oil spreads over the surface of water because
(a) the surface tension of oil is greater than that of water
(b) the surface tension of oil is less than that of water
(c) both oil and water have the same surface tension
(d) the surface tension of water reduces due to addition of oil
39. Consider the following statements:
(I) A few drops of oil put on water surface readily spread into a thin oil film over the surface
(II) Since oil has less surface tension that water, the greater surface tension of water in the remaining part of the
water surface stretches the oil in all directions.
Select the correct alternative from below:
(a) Statement I is wrong observation; oil drops simply float as spherical globules
(b) Statement I is correct observation; but statement II is not its explanation
(c) Statement I is correct observation and statement II is correctly explains it
(d) Both statements are wrong.
40. The surface tension of a lubricating oil is kept low so that
(a) there is reduction in contact area (b) the oil gives a good shine
(c) the oil can spread over a large area (d) the oil gets absorbed into the surface.
41. If for a liquid in a vessel, the force of cohesion is more than the force of adhesion,
(a) the liquid does not wet the solid (b) the liquid wets the solid
(c) the surface of the liquid is plane (d) the angle of contact is zero
42. If for a liquid in a vessel, the force of adhesion is more than the force of cohesion,
(a) the liquid wets the solid (b) the liquid does not wet the solid
(c) the surface of the liquid is plane (d) the angle of contact is 1800

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Physics Surface Tension
43. A drop of water is carefully put on a horizontal surface smeared with oil. Then,
(a)the water drop readily spreads over the surface because the surface tension of water is greater than that of oil
(b) the water drop readily spreads over the surface because the surface tension of oil is greater than that of water.
(c) the water drop remains as a globule because the surface tension of water is greater than that of oil
(d) the water drop remains as a globule because the surface tension of oil is greater than that of water.
Angle of contact
44. If a liquid spreads over a solid surface, its angle of contact with the solid surface is
(a) 1800 (b) 900 (c)450 (d) 00
45. If a liquid partially wets a solid surface, its angle of contact with the solid surface
(a) is acute (b) is 900 (c)is obtuse (d) can have any value between 00 and 1800
46. If a liquid does not wet a solid surface, its angle of contact with the solid surface, is
(a) zero (b) acute (c)900 (d) obtuse.
Excess pressure inside a drop and bubble
47. The excess pressure inside a small spherical drop, of radius R and surface tension T, is p. If its radius is increased
by an infinitesimal amount dR, the increase in surface energy will be
(a) 4 TR2dR (b) 4 pR2dR (c)8 TR2dR (d) 8 pR2dR
48. The pressure within a bubble is higher than that outside by an amount proportional
(a) directly to both the surface tension and the bubble radius
(b) directly to the surface tension and inversely to the bubble radius
(c) directly to the bubble radius and inversely to the surface tension
(d) inversely to both the surface tension and the bubble radius
49. The pressure difference across the surface of a spherical water drop of radius 1 mm and surface tension 0.07 N/m is
(a) 28 Pa (b) 35 Pa (c) 140 Pa (d) 280 Pa
50. An air bubble just inside a soap solution and a soap bubble blown using the same solution have the same radii. The
ratio of the excess pressure inside them is
(a) 1 : 4 (b) 1 : 2 (c)2 : 1 (d) 4 : 1
51. The excess pressure inside a soap bubble is four times another bubble formed with the same soap solution. The ratio
of the volume of the second bubble to that of the first is
(a) 1 : 64 (b) 1 : 4 (c)4 : 1 (d) 64 : 1
52. A spherical drop of a liquid, of surface tension T, has equilibrium radius r. The pressure exerted by the force due to
surface tension upon the interior of the drop is
T T 2T 4T
(a) (b) (c) (d)
4 r 2 8r 2 r r
53. The Latin word capillus means
(a) capillary (b) meniscus (c)fibre (d) hair
54. Absorption of water by a filter paper is due to
(a) cohesion (b) capillarity (c)adhesion (d)elasticity.

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Physics Surface Tension
55. Oil rises up the wick of an earthen lamp due to
(a) the gravitational pull of the wick (b)the buoyant force
(c) the capillary action (d) the diffusion of oil
56. Due to the capillary action, a liquid rises in a tube if the angle of contact is
(a) acute (b) obtuse (c)900 (d) 1800
57. If a capillary tube is dipped in a liquid that partially wets it,
(a) the liquid rises in the tube (b) the liquid falls in the tube
(c)the liquid neither nor falls in the tube (d)the liquid may rise or fall in the tube.
58. If a capillary tube is dipped in a liquid that does not wet the capillary tube,
(a) the liquid rises in the tube (b) the liquid falls in the tube
(c) the liquid neither rises nor in the tube (d) the liquid overflows.
59. The angle of contact of a liquid with clean glass is acute. The shape of the free surface of the liquid in capillary tube
is
(a) convex (b)concave (c)plane (d) not predictable.
60. Below 4 C, the density of water decreases. The water meniscus in a capillary tube dipped in water at 30C is
0

(a) convex (b) concave (c)horizontal (d)not predictable

61. The mercury meniscus in a capillary tube is
(a) convex (b) concave (c) horizontal (d)not predictable
62. Water can rise up to a height of 3 cm in a capillary tube. The capillary is lowered into water in a beaker till only 2.0
cm of it is above the free surface of water outside. Then,
(a) there will not be any capillary rise
(b) water will rise up to the top and form a convex meniscus
(c) water will rise up to the top and form a concave meniscus
(d) water will come out of the upper end of the capillary like a fountain.
63. Which of the following does not involve capillary action?
(a)Rise of sap in a tree (b) Absorption of ink by a blotting –paper
(c)Plugging of land for moisture retention (d)Floating of a straw on water surface
64. Water rises in a capillary tube of radius r to a height h. The mass of water in the tube is M. If a capillary tube of
radius 2r is used, the mass of water rising in the tube will be
(a) M/2 (b)M (c)2M (d)4M
65. For wetting liquid in capillary tube, the surface tension of the liquid is (in the usual notation)
hrg hrg rg cos  hg
(a) (b) (c) (d)
2 2 cos  2h 2r cos 
66. A liquid rises to a height of 5cm in a glass capillary tube of radius 0.02 cm. The height to which the liquid would rise
in a glass capillary tube of radius 0.04 cm is
(a) 2.5 cm (b) 2.9.6 cm (c)7.5 cm (d) 10 cm

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Physics Surface Tension
67. A capillary tube, 0.1 cm in diameter, is immersed in water (at 200 C, T = 0.0727 N/m) in a dish. The capillary rise is
2.97 cm. If the same capillary tube is inserted in water at 00 C, the capillary rise will be
(a) 3.08 cm (b) 2.906 cm (c)2.77 cm (d) 2.08 cm
68. At 200C, the surface tension and density of acetone are respectively 32.6% and 78% those of water. In a given
capillary tube, if the capillary rise for water at 200C is 2.97 cm, that for acetone (also at 200C assume angle of contact
to be 00) is
(a) 2.97 cm (b) 2.77 cm (c)1.64 cm (d) 1.24 cm
69. A liquid rises to a height of 5 cm in glass capillary tube of radius 0.3 mm. The height to which the liquid would rise
in a glass capillary tube of radius 0.2 mm is
(a) 3.3 cm (b) 4.5 cm (c)6.5 cm (d) 7.5 cm
70. In a weightless environment (zero gravity), the liquid in a capillary tube will
(a) rise to the same height as on the Earth (b) fall by the same height as its rise on the Earth
(c) reach the top of the tube with a change in the radius of curvature of meniscus
(d) overflow out of the tube
71. Water rises to a height of 10 cm in a capillary tube mercury falls to a depth of 3.42 cm in the same capillary tube. If
the density of mercury is 13.6g/cm3 and the angle of contact is 1350, the ratio of the surface tension of water to that
of mercury is about
(a) 1 : 4.5 (b) 1 : 5 (c)1 : 6.5 (d) 1 : 8
72. The surface tension of water is 0.07 Nm–1. The rise of water in a capillary tube of diameter 1 mm is
(a) 0.28 cm (b) 1.4 cm (c)2.8 cm (d) 5.6 cm
73. A liquid rises to a height of 9 cm in a glass capillary tube of radius 0.02 cm. The height of the liquid column in a
similar glass capillary tube of radius 0.03 cm is
(a) 0.3 cm (b) 1.5 cm (c)3 cm (d) 6 cm
74. If capillary tubes of different radii are dipped in the same liquid, in the usual notation.
h r
(a)  constant. (b)  constant. (c) r 2 h  constant. (d)hr = constant.
r h
75. When a capillary tube of radius 0.36 mm is dipped into water, the water level rises to a height of 4 cm in it. If the
water is pure and the walls of the tube are clean, the surface tension of water is
(a) 62 dyn/cm (b) 64 cyn/cm (c)72 dyn/cm (d) 82dyn/cm
76. Water rises in a capillary tube to a height of a 4 cm. If a capillary tube will double the area of cross section is used,
the height of water in the tube will be

2 4
(a) cm (b) cm (c) 4 2 cm (d) 8 cm
4 2
77. A liquid rises to a height of 5 cm in a glass capillary tube of radius 0.02 cm. The height to which the liquid would
rise in a glass capillary tube of radius 0.04 cm is
(a) 2.5 cm (b) 5 cm (c)7.5 cm (d) 10 cm

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Physics Surface Tension
78. At 200C the surface tensions of water and carbon tetrachloride, respectively, are 0.073N/m and their densities are 10 3
kg/m3 and 1.6  103 kg/m3. The ratio of the heights to which water and carbon tetrachloride will rise in a capillary
tube is about [Angles of contact for both liquids = 00]
(a) 0.6 (b) 1.7 (c)3.4 (d) 4.3
79. Two identical capillary tubes A and B are dipped in water and soap solution, respectively. Which of the following
correctly depicts the relative capillarity in the two cases?

(a) (b) (c) (d)

80. Water rises in a capillary tube 5.0 cm above the free surface of the liquid outside. If the capillary tube is paced
vertically in a dish of mercury, the meniscus is depressed below the free surface by about [surface tension of mercury
is 6.5 times that of water, angle of contact of mercury with clean glass = 1350, density of the mercury = 13.6 g/cm3]
(a) 3.0 cm (b) 2.5 cm (c)1.69 cm (d) 0.95 cm
81. Select the correct diagram from the following that show the capillary rise in three capillary tubes
[Diameters, d1 = 1.5 d2 and d3 = 2d2]

(a) (b) (c) (d)

Effect of impurity and temperature
82. Of the following temperatures, the surface tension of water is the least at
(a) 00 C (b) 40C (c)200C (d) 500C
83. The surface tension of water is 0.0727 N/m at 200C. At 00C, the surface tension of water is
(a) 0.0756 N/m (b) 0.0712 N/m (c)0.0679 N/m (d) 72.7 dyn/cm
84. With increasing temperature, the surface tension of liquid usually
(a) increases (b) decreases (c)remains unchanged (d) increases or decreases depending on the nature of the liquid.
85. A charged soap bubble of radius r in air is in equilibrium, having outside and inside pressure being equal. The charge
on the bubble is

2T 0 4T 0 6T 0 8T 0
(a) 4r (b) 4r (c) 4r (d) 4r
2 2 2 2

r r r r
86. A liquid rises up to a height of 1.8 cm in a glass capillary A. Another glass capillary B, having diameter 90% of the
capillary A, is introduced into the same liquid. The rise of the liquid in the capillary B is
(a) 1.4 cm (b) 1.8 cm (c)2.0 cm (d) 2.2 cm

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87. A large number of liquid drops, each of radius a, merge to form a single spherical drop of radius b. The energy
released in the process is converted into kinetic energy of the larger drop formed. The speed of the large drop is [ 
density of liquid, T  surface tension of the liquid]

6T  1 1  6T  1 1   1 1  1 1
       
  a b    b a 
(a) (b) (c) (d)
6T  a b  6T  b a 
88. In a capillary tube of radius R, a straight thin metal wire of radius r(R > r) is inserted symmetrically and one end of
the combination is dipped vertically in water such that the lower end of the combination is at the same level. The rise
of water in the capillary tube is [T = surface tension of water,  = density of water, g = gravitational acceleration]

(a)
T
(b)
R g
(c)
T
(d)
R  r g
R  r g 2T R  r g T
89. A liquid drop having surface energy E is spread into 512 droplets of same size. The final surface energy of the
droplets is
(a) 2E (b) 4E (c)8E (d) 12E
Answers
Level – 1
1-b 11-a 21-c 31-c 41-c 51-d 61-b 71-a 81-b
2-a 12-b 22-d 32-d 42-c 52-a 62-c 72-c 82-b
3-c 13-b 23-c 33-c 43-a 53-a 63-c 73-c 83-a
4-c 14-c 24-d 34-b 44-c 54-b 64-c 74-c 84-d
5-c 15-a 25-a 35-b 45-d 55-d 65-b 75-d 85-c
6-c 16-c 26-a 36-b 46-d 56-a 66-b 76-d 86-a
7-c 17-b 27-d 37-d 47-d 57-b 67-d 77-b 87-d
8-a 18-b 28-d 38-c 48-a 58-d 68-a 78-c 88-d
9-a 19-d 29-b 39-c 49-b 59-b 69-c 79-a 89-a
10-d 20-d 30-a 40-a 50-c 60-b 70-c 80-c 90-b
Level – 2
1-a 11-c 21-b 31-b 41-a 51-d 61-a 71-c 81-c
2-b 12-b 22-b 32-a 42-a 52-c 62-c 72-c 82-d
3-b 13-d 23-b 33-d 43-c 53-d 63-d 73-d 83-a
4-c 14-d 24-d 34-b 44-d 54-b 64-c 74-d 84-b
5-b 15-c 25-c 35-b 45-a 55-c 65-b 75-c 85-d
6-b 16-b 26-d 36-c 46-d 56-a 66-a 76-b 86-c
7-b 17-c 27-b 37-d 47-b 57-a 67-a 77-a 87-a
8-a 18-c 28-c 38-b 48-b 58-b 68-d 78-d 88-c
9-c 19-c 29-b 39-c 49-c 59-b 69-d 79-a 89-c
10-b 20-b 30-a 40-c 50-b 60-b 70-c 80-c

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