EXAMPLES OF SURFACE TENSION IN NATURE

Water striders and aquatic spiders make use of the “skin” created by water tension to skate across the surface of their aquatic environment. They have lightweight bodies and an anatomy that spreads their weight over as large a surface area as possible. Occasionally they do break the surface tension of the water and attempt to swim to the surface.

Pollutants such as sodium docedyl sulfate (SDS), a compound in sodium laurel sulfate found in many shampoos, dish soap, and laundry detergent, may decrease the surface tension of the water. This makes it difficult for water striders to travel on the surface.

www.woodrow.org/teachers/bi/1998/waterstrider/student_lab.html.

http://www.exploratorium.edu/ronh/bubbles/sticky_water.html

 

 

Surface tension is necessary for the formation of waves. Small waves of a few centimeters or less are called suface tension waves. The “skin” of water, created by surface tension, acts like an elastic membrane and ripples in the wind. If wind continues to blow into these surface tension waves, energy is added, causing wave propagation.

www.exo.net/~pauld/activities/waterwavesoil.html

 

 

The shape of small raindrops are due to surface tension. Surface tension pulls small raindrops into spheres, the shape that has the least amount of surface are per unit volume and therefore a lower energy state. Bigger raindrops have a greater fall velocity. This increases the pressure on the bottom of the raindrop, flattening it. If the radius exceeds about 4 mm, the drop gets distorted and breaks up into smaller drops.

www.ems.psu.edu/~fraser/Bad/BadRain.html

Back Home