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why does the free surface of a liquid at...

why does the free surface of a liquid at rest behave like a stretched elastic membrane?

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All the molecules in the surface film of liquid experience downward force which increases upwards as we move form bottom of surface film to its top. As a result of it all the molecules in the surface film have potential energy which increased from bottom of surface film to its top. To be in stabe equilibrium at rest, the surface film must have minimum potential energy . While doing so, the free surfaces tends to contact to minimizw area and hence behaves like a stretched elastic membrane.
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...........is the property by virtue of which the free surface of the liquid at rest behaves like a stretched elastic membrane tending to contract to occupy minimum surface area.

Why does a liquid surface behave like a stretched membrane ?

Surface tension is the property of a liquid by virtue of which free surface of liquid at rest tries to have minimum surface area. In doing so, the free surface of liquid at rest behaves as if it is covered with a stretched membrane. Surface tension (S) of a liquid is measured by from (F) acting on unit length fo a line (l) imagined to be drawn tangentially anywhere on the free surface i.e., S = (F)/(l). S is measured in N m^(-1) Read the above passage and answer the following question : (i)What is the cause of surface tension ? (ii) A wire ring of 30 mm diameter resting flat on the surface of a liquid is raised. The pull required is 1.5 gf more before the film breaks then it is after. What is surface tension of the liquid ? (iii) What are the implication of this phenomenon in day to day life ?

Free surface of a liquid behaves like a stretched membrane and tends to assume smallest possible area due to

Surface tension is the property of a liquid by virtue of which the free space of the liquid at rest tends to have minimum area and as such it behaves as if covered with a stretched membrane. It is measured as the force acting an unit length of a line imagined to be drawn tangentially anywhere on the free surface of liquid at rest. It acts at right angles to this line on both sides and along the tangent to the liquid surface. When a razor bladed floats on water, then the force of surface tension acts on the circumference of the blade acting tangentially to the liquid surface : (a) True (b) False

Surface tension is the property of a liquid by virtue of which the free space of the liquid at rest tends to have minimum area and as such it behaves as if covered with a stretched membrane. It is measured as the force acting an unit length of a line imagined to be drawn tangentially anywhere on the free surface of liquid at rest. It acts at right angles to this line on both sides and along the tangent to the liquid surface. Raindrops are spherical in shape because each drop tends to acquire maximum surface area : (a) True (b) False

Surface tension is the property of a liquid by virtue of which the free space of the liquid at rest tends to have minimum area and as such it behaves as if covered with a stretched membrane. It is measured as the force acting an unit length of a line imagined to be drawn tangentially anywhere on the free surface of liquid at rest. It acts at right angles to this line on both sides and along the tangent to the liquid surface. The iron needle will floats on clean water but sink when some detergent is added to this water (a) True (b) False

A liquid cannot withstand a shear stress. How does this impty that the surface of a liquid at rest must be level, i.e., normal to the gravitational force?

Surface tension is the property of a liquid by virtue of which the free space of the liquid at rest tends to have minimum area and as such it behaves as if covered with a stretched membrane. It is measured as the force acting an unit length of a line imagined to be drawn tangentially anywhere on the free surface of liquid at rest. It acts at right angles to this line on both sides and along the tangent to the liquid surface. Surface tension is a scalar quantity : (a) True (b) False

Statement - 1 : The free surface of a liquid at rest with respect to stationary container is always normal to the overset(-)g_(eff) . Statement - 2 : Liquids at rest cannot have shear stress.

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