4: Forces Due to Surface Tension and Other Effects of Size Confinement Check Access

Chapter 4 investigates surface tension, a force stemming from atoms and molecules’ preference to interact with their neighbors, which results in a contraction of the surface. It discusses the origins and implications of surface tension, from its relevance in medical diagnostics to its influence on everyday phenomena like the stickiness of clothes on humid days. The chapter uncovers the relationship between surface tension and surface energy, explores the concept of Laplace pressure, and investigates contact angles. It also delves into capillary interactions, including capillary rise and capillary attraction, elucidating the profound effect of size confinement on the behavior of physical systems.