Explain : In the absence of gravity or other external forces, a l… - Vidyadip

Question

Explain : In the absence of gravity or other external forces, a liquid drop assumes a spherical shape.

✓

Answer

A spherical shape has the minimum surface area-to-volume ratio of all geometric forms. If any . external force distorts the sphere, molecules must be brought from the interior to the surface in order to provide for the increased surface area. This process requires work to be done in order to raise the potential energy of a molecule. The change in free surface energy is equal to the net work done to alter the surface area of the liquid.However, spontaneous processes are associated with a decrease in free energy. Hence, in the absence of external forces, a liquid drop will spontaneously assume a spherical shape in order to minimize its exposed surface area and thereby its free surface energy.
[ Note: The spontaneous coalescence of two similar liquid droplets into one large drop when brought into contact is a dramatic demonstration of the decrease in free surface energy brought about by the decrease in total surface area by the formation of a single larger drop.]

Need a full question paper?

Generate a complete, print-ready paper with questions like this in minutes — across 16+ boards, with answer keys.

Start Generating Free

Explore more

More "Answer the following in Detail" from Mechanical Properties of Fluids→Mechanical Properties of Fluids — all question types→Physics STD 12 Science question papers→Maharashtra Board STD 12 Science question papers→Maharashtra Board question paper generator→

Similar questions

Find the number of molecules in $1 \mathrm{~cm}^3$ of oxygen at a pressure of $105 \mathrm{~N} / \mathrm{m}^2$ if the rms speed of oxygen molecules is $426 \mathrm{~m} / \mathrm{s}$. What is the temperature of the gas? (Mass of an oxygen molecule $=5.28 \times 10^{-26} \mathrm{~kg}, \mathrm{k}_{\mathrm{B}}=1.38 \times 10^{-23} \mathrm{~J} / \mathrm{K}$ )

State the Bio-Savart law (Laplace law) for the magnetic induction produced by a current element. Express it in vector form.

The first practical cyclotron developed by Lawrence and Livingston in $1932$ had dees of radius $12 \ cm$ and produced protons of about $1 MeV$ energy.
Calculate $(i)$ the applied magnetic induction $(ii)$ the frequency of the accelerating electric field.
$\left[ m ^p=1.67 \times 10^{-27} \ kg _{ q } q =1.6 \times 10^{-19} C \right.$

Find the ratio of the potential differences that must be applied across the parallel and series combination of two capacitors C1 and C2 with their capacitances in the ratio 1 : 2, so that the energy stored in these two cases becomes the same.

Explain the condition under which a charged particle will travel through a uniform magnetic field in a helical path.###Describe the general motion of charged particle in a uniform magnetic field.

The radius of gyration of a uniform solid sphere of radius $R$ is $\sqrt{\frac{2}{5}} R$ for rotation about its diameter. Show that its radius of gyration for rotation about a tangential axis of rotation is $\sqrt{\frac{7}{5}} R$

Draw a p-V diagram and explain the concept of positive and negative work. Give one example each.

Describe with a neat labelled ray diagram the Fraunhofer diffraction pattern due to a single slit. Obtain the expressions for the positions of the intensity minima and maxima. Also obtain the expression for the width of the central maximum.

Using Ampere’s law, derive an expression for the magnetic induction inside an ideal toroid carrying a steady current.

What is the magnetic moment of an electron due to its orbital motion?