Found 2 items, similar to surface tension.
English → English (WordNet)
Definition: surface tension
surface tension
n : a phenomenon at the surface of a liquid caused by
intermolecular forces
English → English (gcide)
Definition: Surface tension
Surface tension
\Sur“face ten”sion\ (Physics)
That property, due to molecular forces, which exists in the
surface film of all liquids and tends to bring the contained
volume into a form having the least superficial area. The
thickness of this film, amounting to less than a thousandth
of a millimeter, is considered to equal the radius of the
sphere of molecular action, that is, the greatest distance at
which there is cohesion between two particles. Particles
lying below this film, being equally acted on from all sides,
are in equilibrium as to forces of cohesion, but those in the
film are on the whole attracted inward, and tension results.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]