Question

Define surface energy of the liquid. Obtain the relation between the surface energy and surface tension.

Hint:

Surface tension is the force that minimizes a liquid's surface area, playing a key role in phenomena such as the formation of water droplets.

Answer 1

Surface energy is the energy needed to increase the surface area of a liquid by one unit area. It is associated with the force acting at the liquid's surface that resists expansion. Surface tension, which is the force per unit length acting along the surface, is directly related to surface energy. The relationship between surface energy \( E \) and surface tension \( T \) is expressed as: \[ E = T \cdot L \] where \( L \) is the length of the line along the surface.