ELI5- What’s Surface Tension?
In: Chemistry
Surface tension is basically the tendency of molecules of a liquid to attract one another. This causes the surface of the liquid to behave as if it were an elastic membrane. In the abscence of any other forces, surface tension will cause the surface of the liquid to contract into a sphere, which is why water droplets take on a spherical shape. The effects of surface tension can be seen clearly in [this video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_qPWZbxFl8), taken on board the ISS. Another illustration is [this picture](https://www.warrenphotographic.co.uk/15106-pond-skater) of a pond skater – the water surface is deformed near the insect’s legs, a bit like it would if you were standing on a trampoline. Without the surface tension, the insect would just sink.
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