Why does curvature reduce the inward attractive force of molecules

Question

This question concerns the first 2 paragraphs of this [text](https://www.e-education.psu.edu/meteo300/node/676).

I am struggling to visualize why molecules on the flat surface experience more net inward force than those on a curved surface. If we have 2 surfaces of water which both have the same number of molecules and one is curved, why does the curved one experience less inward force, if anything, to my mind it seems as it would experience more force as it is more compact. Additionally, does bigger curvature imply less surface tension and why?

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In: Physics

Answer 1

I thought that link explained it pretty well. As the curvature of the surface increases the molecules on the surface have fewer and fewer nearest neighbors. The van der Waals interactions with these neighbors are what causes the surface tension and prevent the molecule from flying off. As the curvature increases, the number of neighbors and the attraction to those neighbors decreases.