Surface Tension Given Capillary Rise Or Depression Calculator

Surface Tension Formula:

\[ \sigma = \frac{h_c \times W \times G_f \times r_t \times 1000}{2 \times \cos(\theta)} \]

Capillary Rise (or Depression) (h_c):

Specific Weight of Water (W):

kN/m³

Specific Gravity of Fluid (G_f):

Radius of Tube (r_t):

Contact Angle (θ):

rad

Surface Tension (σ):

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1. What is Surface Tension?

Surface Tension is a physical property of liquids that describes the elastic tendency of liquid surfaces to acquire the least surface area possible. It is the property of the liquid surface to resist external forces, due to the cohesive nature of its molecules.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the surface tension formula:

\[ \sigma = \frac{h_c \times W \times G_f \times r_t \times 1000}{2 \times \cos(\theta)} \]

Where:

\( \sigma \) — Surface Tension (N/m)
\( h_c \) — Capillary Rise or Depression (m)
\( W \) — Specific Weight of Water (kN/m³)
\( G_f \) — Specific Gravity of Fluid
\( r_t \) — Radius of Tube (m)
\( \theta \) — Contact Angle (radians)

Explanation: This formula calculates surface tension based on capillary action principles, where the rise or depression of a liquid in a capillary tube is related to the surface tension of the liquid.

3. Importance of Surface Tension Calculation

Details: Surface tension calculations are crucial in various fields including fluid mechanics, material science, biology, and chemical engineering. It helps understand phenomena like capillary action, droplet formation, and interfacial behavior between different phases.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter all values in the specified units. Capillary rise/depression and tube radius should be in meters, specific weight in kN/m³, and contact angle in radians. All values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is capillary rise/depression?
A: Capillary rise or depression is the phenomenon where a liquid rises or falls in a narrow tube due to the interplay between cohesive and adhesive forces.

Q2: Why is specific weight of water used in the formula?
A: The specific weight of water serves as a reference value in the calculation, as surface tension is often measured relative to water's properties.

Q3: What does the contact angle represent?
A: The contact angle is the angle between the liquid surface and the solid surface at the point of contact, indicating the wettability of the surface.

Q4: What are typical surface tension values?
A: Surface tension values typically range from 20-75 mN/m for most common liquids at room temperature. Water has a surface tension of about 72 mN/m at 20°C.

Q5: How does temperature affect surface tension?
A: Surface tension generally decreases with increasing temperature as molecular kinetic energy increases, reducing the cohesive forces between molecules.