The water droplets in free fall are spherical due to

Options

A. gravity
B. viscosity
C. surface tension
D. inter-molecular attraction

Explanation

To solve the question regarding why water droplets in free fall are spherical, we can break it down into several key steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Surface Tension**:
- Surface tension is a physical property of liquids that causes the surface of a liquid to behave like a stretched elastic membrane. It arises due to the cohesive forces between liquid molecules.

2. **Cohesive Forces**:
- In a droplet of water, the molecules at the surface experience a net inward force because they are attracted to the molecules within the liquid. This creates a tension at the surface.

3. **Minimization of Surface Area**:
- The shape that minimizes surface area for a given volume is a sphere. Therefore, due to surface tension, the water droplet will naturally take on a spherical shape as it minimizes the energy associated with the surface area.

4. **Free Fall Condition**:
- When water droplets are in free fall, they are not influenced by external forces such as air resistance to the extent that would alter their shape. Thus, they maintain their spherical shape due to the effects of surface tension.

5. **Conclusion**:
- Therefore, the reason water droplets in free fall are spherical is primarily due to surface tension, which acts to minimize the surface area of the droplet.

### Final Answer:
The water droplets in free fall are spherical due to surface tension, which minimizes their surface area.

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