list 2 examples of surface tension in everyday life
The correct answer and explanation is:
Examples of Surface Tension in Everyday Life:
- Water droplets forming on a leaf or window.
- Small insects like water striders walking on the surface of a pond.
Explanation:
Surface tension is a physical property of liquids that causes the surface layer to behave like a stretched elastic membrane. This happens because molecules at the surface of a liquid experience a net inward force, pulling them closer together. This cohesive force between molecules results in the liquid surface resisting external force.
In the first example, water droplets on a leaf or window are shaped like nearly perfect spheres. This happens because surface tension minimizes the surface area of the water. The water molecules stick to each other more strongly than to the surrounding air, causing the droplet to contract into a shape with the smallest surface area possible — a sphere. This is why raindrops bead up on waxy leaves or glass surfaces.
The second example involves small insects, such as water striders, that can walk or stand on water without sinking. The surface tension creates a kind of invisible skin strong enough to support the insect’s weight. Their legs distribute their weight over a large area, and the surface tension prevents the water from breaking. This ability relies entirely on the surface tension of water to hold the insect up.
Surface tension also explains many other everyday phenomena. For example, it is why some liquids form droplets rather than spreading out flat and why some objects, like needles, can float on water if carefully placed. It plays a key role in processes such as the formation of bubbles, the rise of water in narrow tubes (capillary action), and even in certain cleaning and biological functions.
In summary, surface tension is responsible for the distinct behaviors of liquids seen in daily life, from raindrops on leaves to insects walking on water, all because of the cohesive forces acting at the surface layer of the liquid.