15/09/14

Fluid  surfaces  
Lecture 3
At the boundary between two fluids (e.g. water
and air) we get a free surface.
Surface  tension   The free surface must be
•  perpendicular to the force acting on the liquid
(sea level!)
•  at the same pressure as the fluid above (why?)
In our fluid model, we don’t predict any other
effects.

Surface  tension   Recall that there is an attractive force between

molecules.
In reality, the surface of any liquid behaves as
though it is covered by a stretched membrane.
Small insects can walk on water without getting
wet.

net force net force

Why? zero
into liquid

This cohesive force makes the surface of the The net inward force means that the surface is
liquid behave like a elastic sheet under tension. less favourable energetically than the bulk of the
liquid, so there is an excess energy at the surface
The strength of this surface membrane varies for called the surface energy density.
different liquids.

e.g. the surface tension of soapy water is much Liquids always assume a shape which minimises
less than for pure water. the total surface energy by minimising the
surface area.
Surface tension has dimensions [force]/[length]

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This explains why For a liquid, the surface tension is equal to the
liquid drops are surface energy density, e.g. for water
spherical, because a
sphere has the smallest surface energy density = 0.072 J/m2
possible surface area surface tension = 0.072 N/m
for a given volume.
Dimensions:
[force/length] = kg.m.s–2/m = kg.s–2
[energy/area] = kg.m2.s–2/m2 = kg.s–2

Example: Adherence  
Fluid in contact with a surface forms an angle of
Compare the surface energy of a drop of water contact φ: this is called adherence or wetting.
with that of two drops, each with half the volume
Water wets glass completely: φ ~ 0o
of the first.

water mercury water mercury

glass lead

φ< 90o φ> 90o

Adherence depends on chemistry: if the fluid

molecules are more strongly attracted to the solid Look at a close-up of the surface of water where
it meets a glass wall. Water wets glass
than each other, the adherence or wetting is high.
completely ⇒ φ small.

e.g. water molecules are strongly attracted to Each surface water molecule exerts a force on its
glass (hydrophilic) and neighbour.
repelled from materials
like oil (hydrophobic). Equilibrium ⇒ the
glass exerts a force
on the water.

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Note the direction that the surface tension pulls This is how surface tension is measured: using a
in: it pulls along the surface. glass slide dipped into the fluid.

But when water is in contact with e.g. glass, the Experimentally, it is found that the force exerted
contact angle φ is so small ⇒ this force is by a liquid on a body is proportional to the
vertical (parallel to the surface of the glass). length of the line of contact:
F=γl

glass slide The constant of proportionality γ is the surface

water + soap tension of the liquid.

water water

Surface tension has units of N/m. Pressure  inside  a  bubble  

Liquid Surface tension

Consider a bubble of radius r.
mN/m Imagine a plane separating the bubble into two
ethanol 22.1 hemispheres. The internal pressure P tends to
water 72.8 push the hemispheres apart,
but the surface tension acting
mercury 425.4 p
around the circumference radius r
tends to pull them together. F st
(values at 20o C)

In zero gravity, fluid behaviour is dominated by Capillarity  

surface tension effects.
Because of surface tension, water will creep up
narrow tubes: capillary action.

r
Upward force = γl = 2πrγ

h Downward force = mg
= (πr2h) ρg

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Note that if the contact angle is greater than 90o QuesAon  

(e.g. mercury in a glass container), the liquid will
be depressed rather than lifted. Can capillary action explain
the rise of sap in trees?
Assume sap is mainly water:
ρ = 103 kg m–3,
γ = 7.28×10–2 N m–1
Radius of capillaries
r = 2.5×10–5 m

Next  lecture  

Fluid dynamics

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