Surface Tension Energy formula |
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\( E_s \;=\; \dfrac{ \gamma }{ A }\) (Surface Tension Energy) \( \gamma \;=\; E_s \cdot A \) \( A \;=\; \dfrac{ \gamma }{ E_s }\) |
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| Symbol | English | Metric |
| \( E_s \) (Greek symbol gamma) = Surface Tension Energy | \(lbf - ft\) | \(J\) |
| \( \gamma \) (Greek symbol gamma) = Surface Tension | \(lbf - ft\) | \(N - m\) |
| \( A \) = Surface of Interfacial Area | \(ft^2\) | \(m^2\) |
Surface tension energy is the energy associated with the presence of a surface or interface in a material system, arising from the imbalance of intermolecular forces acting on molecules at that boundary. Molecules in the bulk of a liquid experience forces that are relatively uniform in all directions, but molecules at the surface lack neighboring molecules on one side, which places them in a higher energy state. The work required to create or enlarge a surface is stored as surface tension energy. This energy drives systems to minimize their surface area, leading to behaviors such as liquid droplets forming nearly spherical shapes, capillary rise in narrow tubes, and the contraction of liquid films. Surface tension energy is closely related to surface tension, with surface tension representing the energy per unit area needed to create new surface.
