Viscosity

Surface Tension is the force acting along the Surface of a liquid, causing the liquid surface to behave like
a stretched elastic skin.
Many everyday observations, show that the surface of a liquid behaves as if it were a stretched elastic
skin. For example, observe a drop of water forming slowly on a tap that has not been tightly closed.
The water will appear to be filling a balloon or an elastic skin’ or bag. The elastic bag supports the weight
of the water until the spherical drop of water falls.
We can make a dry needle or razor (which should normally sink in water) to float in the surface of clean
water. This can be achieved by placing the needle or razor blade carefully on a small piece of filter paper
which is then placed gently on the water
Surtace. When the paper soąks and sinks, the needle or razor-blade is seen to float on the water surface.
The weight of the needle or razor-blade acting downwards is supported by some surface forces acting
upwards. The needle therefore rests on the ‘skin’ of the water surface making only a slight depression
on it.
Applications of surface tension
Waterproof materials
Such materials used tor umbrellas, raincoats
Tents, are usually treated with oil-based substances which prevent water from wetting the materials. A
thin water-film is usually formed across the spaces between the threads or the fabric due to the surface
Tension ‘skin’ on the raindrops. This skin prevents water from seeping through.
2 Cleansing action of soaps and detergents.
We find it difficult to wash effectively an oily plate or dirty cloth with water only. This is because the oil
or dirt repels the water which cannot then wet the plate or cloth for effective washing. The use of Soap
or other detergents weakens the surface tension
Of water and enables it to float away the particles of oil or dirt from the articles being washed. Also high
temperatures decrease the surface tension of water. Hence it is easier to wash with hot soapy water
than with cold soapless water also detergents contain some chemicals which can combine with dirt and
oil and make them soluble in water. With the dirt or oil removed, the
Waler can then wet the material and wash it ciean.
Thus we reduce surface tension by adding detergent (Soap) oil, alcohol, camphor or by heating the liquid
or increasing its temperature.
CAPILLARITY
Capillarity or capillary action is the tendency of a liquid to rise or fall in a narrow tube.
In both the water and the soap solution, the
Surface of the liquid or its meniscus curves
Upwards. But in mercury the meniscus is curved downwards away from the glass tube.
Two terms cohesion and adhesion will be
Required to explain this capillary action.
Cohesion is the force of attraction between
Molecules of the same kind, e.g. the molecules of water.
Adhesion is the force of attraction between
Molecules of different kinds, e.g. the molecules of water and glass.
Cohesion and adhesion explain the different action of water and mercury when spilled on a clean glass
surface
Because the adhesion of water molecules to
Glass is stronger than the cohesion between water molecules, water spreads out on a clean glass
When we dip three tubes with fine bores but With different diameters into a clean water, we observe
that water rises in the tubes but the narrower the bore the higher the height to which the water rises.
We repeat the experiment with soap solution, we observe a similar situation, but the levels of soap
solution in the tubes are lower than those of water.
If however the tubes are dipped in mercury, the mercury falls in the tubes. The mercury level is
depressed below the level of mercury outside the tubes. The narrower the tube, the lower the mercury
level. This action of liquids to rise or fall in capillary tubes is known as capillarity.
11.3 Viscosity – Friction in
Fluids
It is observed that it is easier to pour water or kerosene from a container than to pour honey or engine
oil. A little stone dropped into a cylinder of water gets to the bottom of the cylinder faster than when
the same stone is dropped into a cylinder containing engine oil or glycerine. These differences are due to
the property of viscosity in these liquids.
Viscosity is the internal friction between layers of a liquid or gas in motion.

Liquids which pour slowly are said to be more Viscous than those which pour faster. Hence very cold
thick palm oil is more viscous than very cold water.
We can consider viscosity as friction in fluids.
The movement of one layer of fluid over a
Neighbouring layer is opposed by viscous forces.
Terminal Velocity (or Speèd)
When a stone falls through a viscous liquid, it is subject to three forces: its weight (W) acting
downwards, the upthrust (U) of the liquid on the stone acting upwards and the viscous force (V)
opposing its motion. The viscous force acts opposite to the motion of the stone, i.e. upwards.
We can therefore write the equation of motion of the stone as
W – V – U = ma
Where a is the acceleration of the stone through the liquid, and m is the mass of the stone.
The viscous force V increases with the speed of the stone. So, as the stone falls faster and
Faster through the liquid, the viscous force opposing the motion increases until at a maximum speed,
the viscous drag balances the downward force of the weight of stone.
At this point the stone moves with constant
Velocity because its acceleration a is now zero.
Hence our equation now becomes
W-V-U = ma = 0
V = W-U.
This constant velocity is termed the terminal Velocity.
Similarities and differences between VISCosity and friction
1. Both forces oppose relative motion between surfaces

2.Both depend on the natures of the materiais contact.
Differences
Fiction does not depend on areas of surfaces in contact, Viscosity depends on areas of surfaces in
contact.
Friction is dependent on normal reaction,
Viscosity is not.
3 Friction occurs in solids, viscosity takes place in liquids and gases (fluids).
Friction does not depend on the relative
velocities between two layers, viscosity
depends on the relative velocity bet ween layers.
Application of viscosity
Oils, grease, and air are used as lubricants because of their viscosity. Engine oils are used in lubricating
engines and other machines so as to keep metal surfaces from rubbing against each other.

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Surface Tension is the force acting along the Surface of a liquid, causing the liquid surface to behave like

a stretched elastic skin.

Applications of surface tension

Such materials used tor umbrellas, raincoats

2 Cleansing action of soaps and detergents.

Waler can then wet the material and wash it ciean.

Surface of the liquid or its meniscus curves

Two terms cohesion and adhesion will be

Required to explain this capillary action.

Cohesion is the force of attraction between

Molecules of the same kind, e.g. the molecules of water.

Adhesion is the force of attraction between

Molecules of different kinds, e.g. the molecules of water and glass.

Because the adhesion of water molecules to

11.3 Viscosity – Friction in

Viscosity is the internal friction between layers of a liquid or gas in motion.

We can consider viscosity as friction in fluids.

The movement of one layer of fluid over a

Neighbouring layer is opposed by viscous forces.

Terminal Velocity (or Speèd)

We can therefore write the equation of motion of the stone as

At this point the stone moves with constant

Velocity because its acceleration a is now zero.

Hence our equation now becomes

This constant velocity is termed the terminal Velocity.

Similarities and differences between VISCosity and friction

1. Both forces oppose relative motion between surfaces

Friction is dependent on normal reaction,

Friction does not depend on the relative

velocities between two layers, viscosity

depends on the relative velocity bet ween layers.

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