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Surface Tension Physics

How is surface tension determined by the drop count

method?
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1 Answer

Mohsen Ahmadnejad, knows Persian

Updated Mar 31, 2018 · Upvoted by Satya Parkash Sud, M.Sc. Physics & Nuclear Physics,
University of Delhi (1962)

Hello

In these days we have several methods to measure the surface tension: (some of
them mentioned here)

1. Capillary rise method

2. Stallagmometer method – drop weight method (your question)

3. Wilhelmy plate or ring method

4. Maximum bulk pressure method.

5. Methods analyzing shape of the hanging liquid drop or gas bubble.

6. Dynamic methods.

In 1930 David M. Gans and William D. Harkins published a journal that title was
“THE DROP WEIGHT METHOD FOR THE DETERMINATION OF SURFACE
TENSION. THE EFFECT OF AN INCLINATION OF THE TIP UPON THE DROP
WEIGHT” this journal completed the Tate’s law.

1 DOI: 10.1021/ja01369a014

in this method they explained that how to calculate (measure) the (fluid) surface
tension from the weight of the drops and counting them.

The stalagmometric method is one of the most common methods used for the
surface tension determination. For this purpose the several drops of the liquid leaked
out of the glass capillary of the stalagmometer are weighed. If the weight of each
drop of the liquid is known, we can also count the number of drops which leaked out
to determine the surface tension. The drops are formed slowly at the tip of the glass
capillary placed in a vertical direction.The pendant drop at the tip starts to detach
when its weight (volume) reaches the magnitude balancing the surface tension of the
liquid. The weight (volume) is dependent on the characteristics of the liquid.

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Upvote · 10 Share What are some real-life examples of surface

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How can you explain surface tension easily with an
example?

Why are the drops falling from the stalagmometer

of spherical shaped?

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This method was first time described by “Tate in 1864” who formed an equation,
which is now called the Tate’s law.

W =2 π r γ

(Where: W* is the drop weight, r* is the capillary radius, and γ* is the surface tension
of the liquid.)

The drop starts to fall down when its weight g is equal to the circumference (2πr)
multiplied by the surface tension γ. In the case of a liquid which wets the
stalagmometer's tip the r value is that of the outer radius of the capillary and if the
liquid does not wet –the r value is that of the inner radius of the capillary (Fig. 12.3).

In fact, the weight of the falling drop W' is lower than W expressed in Eq.(9). This is a
result of drop formation, as shown in Fig.12.4.

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Up to 40% of the drop volume may be left on the stalagmometer tip. Therefore a
correction f has to be introduced to the original Tate's equation.

W'= 2π r γ f

Eq. (10)

(Where: f expresses the ratio of W’/ W)

Harkins and Brown found that the factor f is a function of the stalagmometer tip
radius, volume of the drop v, and a constant, which is characteristic of a given
stalagmometer, f = f (r, a, v)

f = f (r/a) = f ( r / (v^(1/3)))

( V^1/3 means Sqrt V respite by 3 )

The f values for different tip radii were determined experimentally using water and
benzene, whose surface tensions were determined by the capillary rise method. They
are shown in Table 1.

It appeared that the factor f changes the least if:

0. 6 < r / (v^(1/3)) < 1.2

In practice, after having determined the mean weight m of the liquid drop calculated
from several drops weighed, one can calculate its volume at the measurement
temperature if the liquid density is known, and then the value of r/(v^(1/3)) . Next
the f value can be found in the table. Finally, the surface tension can be calculated
from Eq. (10) where:

W' = m g

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The f value depends also on the kind of liquid tested. Therefore the relative
measurements (in comparison to another liquid of known surface tension) can not be
applied here, that is, γ can not be calculated from the ratio of the weights of two
drops of two liquids and known surface tension of one of them. However, such
measurement can be done with 0.1 % accuracy if the shape of the stalagmometer tip
is like that shown in figure 12.5.

Fig. 12.5. Shape of the stalagmometer tip for relative surface tension measurements.

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Having known the drop volume the surface tension can be calculated from Eq. (14).

Hope it helps. If anything is unclear for you feel free to aks the questions.

Good luck.

Edit:

That time i answered this question i didn't see the “count” word; i read that drop
“weight” method!

Sorry.

Here is your currect answer:

http://labmonk.com/determination...
10.8k views · View Upvoters

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