ABSTRACT

Fluid surface tension is the tangential force that keeps a fluid together at the air/
fluid interface. Various intermolecular forces, such as Van der Waals forces, draw the
liquid particles together. Along the surface, the particles are pulled toward the rest
of the liquid. Surface tension is measured in SI units of N/m (newton per meter),
although the more common unit is the CGS unit Dyne/cm (dyne per centimeter). In
order to consider the thermodynamics of the situation, it is sometimes useful to
consider it in terms of work per unit area. The SI unit in that case is the J/ m2. The
CGS unit is erg/cm2. Mercury is the only metal which remains in liquid state in
normal temperature and pressure. Therefore, mercury will have a certain surface
tension. By calculating the height of the mercury drop in the glass plate, surface
tension of mercury can be measured by Quinke’s method. A travelling microscope
was used to determine the height of the mercury. After the experiment, the surface
tension of mercury was found 604.38 Dyne/ Cm with an error of 9.29 %.

1
 INTRODUCTION

The cohesive forces between liquid molecules are responsible for the phenomenon
known as surface tension. The molecules at the surface do not have other like
molecules on all sides of them and consequently they cohere more strongly to those
directly associated with them on the surface. This forms a surface "film" which makes
it more difficult to move an object through the surface than to move it when it is
completely submersed. Surface tension is typically measured in dynes/cm, the force
in dynes required to break a film of length 1 cm. Similarly, it can be stated as surface
energy in ergs per square centimeter. Water at 20°C has a surface tension of 72.8
dynes/cm compared to 22.3 for ethyl alcohol and 465 for mercury. [1]

Surface tension depends mainly upon the forces of attraction between the particles
within the given liquid and also upon the gas, solid, or liquid in contact with it. The
molecules in a drop of water, for example, attract each other weakly. Water
molecules well inside the drop may be thought of as being attracted equally in all
directions by the surrounding molecules. However, if surface molecules could be
displaced slightly outward from the surface, they would be attracted back by the
nearby molecules. The energy responsible for the phenomenon of surface tension
may be thought of as approximately equivalent to the work or energy required to
remove the surface layer of molecules in a unit area. In comparison, organic liquids,
such as benzene and alcohols, have lower surface tensions, whereas mercury has a
higher surface tension. An increase in temperature lowers the net force of attraction
among molecules and hence decreases surface tension. [2]

Surface tension allows insects (e.g. water striders), usually denser than water, to
float and stride on a water surface. At liquid–air interfaces, surface tension results
from the greater attraction of liquid molecules to each other (due to cohesion) than
to the molecules in the air (due to adhesion). Surface tension is most prevalent in
earth's most important compound, water. "Normal" water at ambient temperature
has a high surface tension, but the addition of different chemicals can alter this. The
relationship between the molecules affects the fluidity of the liquid and its ability to
support pressure.

THEORY

Let a drop of mercury be supported on a clean glass plate. Let the drop be so large
that it is flat. Let a horizontal plane HKL be drawn through the point H at which the
surface is vertical (fig: 1).

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 Fig 1: Slicing of the Mercury Drop while Finding the Surface tension by Quinke’s
Method

Let, FK= h.

Then the liquid to the right of the vertical plane FL exert a hydrostatic pressure
varying from zero at F to ρgh at K (ρ being the density of mercury). Hence the
average pressure exerted on the plane FL is ρgh/2 and since the area of the plane is
hδ, the total force acting on it from right to left is equal to ρgh2 δ /2.

The surface to the right of the section FD exerts a force Tδ acting from left to right (T
being the surface tension).

Since no other force act parallel to HK on the portion CDLKH of the slice,
Then, Tδ= ρgh2 δ /2.
Therefore, T= ρgh2 /2

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 EXPERIMENTAL DATA

TABLE: CALCULATING THE HEIGHT OF MERCURY DROP BY MEASURING UPPER AND

LOWER LEVEL

Height,
Upper Level of Mercury (x1) Lower Level of Mercury (x2) (h)
x1 ~ x2
Obsn
Value Value
No
MSR VSR of Total Mean MSR VSR of Total Mean
(cm) (cm) VSR (cm) x1 (cm) (cm) VSR (cm) x2
(cm) (cm)
2.85
1. 2.85 4 0.004 2.5 43 0.043 2.543
4
2.85
2. 2.85 8 0.008 2.853 2.5 48 0.048 2.548 2.547 0.301
6
2.85
3. 2.85 1 0.001 2.5 50 0.50 2.550
1

Percentage of Error.

Percentage of Error = (Standard Value ~ Obtained Value)/ Standard Value x 100 %

= (553 ~ 604.38)/ 553 x 100 %
= 9. 29 % 
Result. The surface tension of mercury measured by Quinke's method is 604.38
Dyne/ Cm with an error of 9.29 %.

DISCUSSION

During the experiment following precautionary measures were taken for obtaining
the best result:

a. Mercury was clean and dry.

b. Glass plate used was leveled perfectly.

After the experiment the surface tension of mercury has been found 604.38 Dyne/
Cm, which is 9.29 % deviated from the standard result. However, following reasons
might result such error:

a. While watching through the microscope, the reflection of light was

coming through the window. Initially this created trouble to measure the
exact height of the mercury. Later on this problem was overcome by using a
black screen.

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 b. While taking the Vernier Scale reading, we have to be very precise.
Using a microscope may ease the task of taking the reading.

c. It was found pretty difficult to determine the exact lower level of

mercury, since it is difficult to distinguish the mercury plane and glass plate
through the microscope.

CONCLUSION

Surface tension is a phenomenon in which the surface of a liquid, where the liquid is
in contact with gas, acts like a thin elastic sheet. This term is typically used only when
the liquid surface is in contact with gas (such as the air). If the surface is between two
liquids (such as water and oil), it is called "interface tension." It is the intermolecular
force of attraction between adjacent molecules, expressed in force per unit width, as
dynes/ centimeter (Dynes/Cm) or milli Newtons/ meter (mN/m). By calculating the
height of the mercury drop in the glass plate surface tension of mercury can be
measured by Quinke’s method. A travelling microscope was used to determine the
height of the mercury. Due to some difficulties like not differentiating the mercury
plane and glass plate, difficulties while measuring the Vernier scale caused some
degree of error. The surface tension of mercury measured by Quinke's method is
604.38 Dyne/ Cm with an error of 9.29 %.

References:

[1] http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/surten.html.
[2] https://www.britannica.com/science/surface-tension