ACHIEVEMENT ZONE

CHAPTER -9
XI SUB: PHYSICS MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF FLUIDS NOTES-5

(17) Write Stoke's law

Ans: The resistive (viscous) force on a small, smooth, spherical, solid body of radius r moving with
velocity v through a viscous medium of large dimension having coefficient of viscosity  is given by
F(v) = 6v
This formula is called Stoke's law.

(18) Deduce the expression for initial acceleration and terminal velocity ( υ ) for a small, smooth sphere
t

falling in a viscous liquid.

Ans: Suppose, a small, smooth, solid sphere of radius r of material having density  falls with initial
velocity zero in a fluid as shown in figure Let the density of a fluid be 0 and its coefficient of
viscosity be . Here  > 0
 In figure, forces acting on the sphere at three different instants are shown. These forces are
(1) Weight of Sphere = F1 (Downward)
(2) Bouyant force of the fluid = F2 (Upward)
(3) Viscous force = F(v) (Upward)

4 3
(1) Volume of sphere V = r
3
4 3
 Mass of sphere m  ρV  πr ρ
3
 Weight of sphere
4 3
F1  mg  πr ρg .......(1)
3
(2) The Bouyant force exerted by the fluid is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the
sphere. Volume of the fluid displaced by the sphere of volume.
4
V  πr 3
3
 Mass of fluid displaced by sphere,
4
mo  Vρo  πr 3ρo
3
 Weight of fluid displaced by sphere,
4
mo g  πr 3ρ o g
3

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  Buoyant force,.
4 3
F2  πr ρ o g ......(2)
3
(3) Viscous force opposing the motion as per Stoke's law is,
F(v)  6πηrυ ......(3)
 Resultant force on the sphere
F  F1  F2  F(υ)
4 4
F  4πr 3ρg  πr 3ρ 0g  6πηrυ ....(4)
3 3
 At t = 0, when motion of sphere starts in the fluid its velocity = 0, so F(υ)  0
4 4
 F  r 3ρg  r 3ρ 0g
3 3
4 4
F  πr 3ρg  πr 3ρ o g
3 3
4
F  πr 3g (ρ  ρ o ) ......(5)
3
 If acceleration of sphere at t = 0 is a0
4
F = ma0 = r 3ρa 0 ….(6)
3
Comparing equation (5) & (6),
4 3 4
πr ρa 0  πr 3g (ρ  ρ 0 )
3 3
ρ  ρ0
a0  ….(7)
ρ
 Which is equation of acceleration produced in sphere.

Formula of Terminal velocity:

 As the velocity of the sphere increases gradually with time, the viscous force F() acting on
the sphere in upward direction also increases but F1 but F2 forces are constant, so resultant force and
acceleration decreases.
 When F1 = F2 + F(), the resultant force on the sphere becomes zero. Now onwards the
sphere travels with constant velocity called terminal velocity (t) of the sphere.
When the sphere acquires terminal velocity F = 0, and  = t from equation (4).
4 4
0  πr 3ρg  πr 3ρ 0g  6πηrυ t
3 3
4
6πηrυ t  πr 3g (ρ  ρ 0 )
3
2
2r g
υ t  (ρ  ρ0 ) .....(8)
9 η
 Which is the formula of terminal velocity of sphere moving in the fluid

NOTES: A bubble formed in the liquid may be considered to be a sphere of air. In this case 0 > . Hence
from the beginning F1 being less than F2, the bubble is accelerated upward. So bubble rises up and
acquires terminal velocity after some time.
This terminal velocity can be obtained using equation(8).
Here t is negative, which shows that the bubble has terminal velocity in upward direction.

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(19) What are cohesive and adhesive forces? Give examples.

Ans: (i) Cohesive force: It is the force of attraction between the molecules of the same substance.
Example: Solids have definite shape and size due to strong forces of cohesion amongst their
molecules.
(ii) Adhesive force: It is the force of attraction between the molecules of two different substances.
Example: It is due to force of adhesion that ink sticks to paper while writing.
Water wets the walls of its glass container because the force of adhesion between water and glass is
greater than the force of cohesion between the water molecules.
On the contrary, mercury does not wet glass because the force of cohesion between the mercury
molecules is much greater than the force of adhesion between mercury and glass.
(20) Define the terms molecular range, sphere of influence and surface film.
Ans: Molecular range( ro ): It is the maximum distance upto which a molecule can exert some appreciable
force of attraction on other molecules. It is of the order of 10-9 m in solids and liquids.
Sphere of Action of molecule or Sphere of influence:
A sphere drawn around a molecule as centre and with a radius equal to the molecular range ( ro ) is
called the sphere of influence of the molecule. The molecule at the centre attracts all the molecules
lying in its sphere of influence.
While studying the behaviour of a molecule under the influence of cohesive forces, we need to
consider only the molecules lying in its sphere of influence.
Surface film or Surface of liquid: A thin film of liquid near its surface having thickness equal to
the molecular range( ro ) for that liquid is called surface film OR
A layer of thickness r0 below the free surface of liquid is called the surface of liquid.
(21) Explain surface tension on the basics of molecular theory.
Ans: Molecular theory of surface tension:
DETAILED EXPLANATION
As shown in figure AB is the free surface of liquid. Consider three molecule P, Q and R of liquid
along with their spheres of molecules action.

 The sphere of action of molecule P is completely immersed in the liquid and so P is attracted
equally in all directions by other molecules lying within its sphere of action. So that resultant
cohesive force, on P will be zero and it remains in equilibrium.
 All molecules at depth more than r0 from free surface AB of liquid will have similar situation.
 Consider molecule Q and its sphere of molecular action. Part FOEF of its sphere of action is
outside of liquid and this part contains the molecules of both air and liquid vapour. The densities of
air and vapour are much less than that of liquid. Moreover the adhesive forces acting between the
molecules of air and liquid are comparatively feeble.
 Thus resultant force due to the molecules in GNHG part is more than the resultant
upward forces due to the molecules of air and vapour in the similar region FOEF.
 The numbers of molecules of the liquid in the regions CDHG and CDEF are equal. Hence the
resultant force on Q due to molecules in these regions is zero.
 Thus molecule Q is under the influence of downward resultant force.
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 Thus, the resultant force on the molecules of the liquid in its surface is in vertically downward
direction.
As we move upward in the surface, the magnitude of the downward resultant force keeps on
increasing and is maximum at the free surface. Hence molecules of liquid lying in the surface
have tendency to go inside the body of the liquid.
 In these circumstances, some of the molecules go down so density below the surface of
liquid increases and more than a certain number of molecules will not go down.
 Thus intermolecular distance between the molecules is less below the surface while within
the surface these distances are more. So the molecules lying in it experience force of tension
parallel to the surface.
 Thus the surface of liquid has a tendency to contract like stretched elastic membrane
and as a result tension prevails in the surface parallel to the surface. The magnitude of this tension is
given by the physical quantity known as surface tension.
 The force exerted by the molecules lying on one side of imaginary line of unit length, on
the molecules lying on the other side of the line, which is perpendicular to the line and parallel
to the surface is defined as surface tension (T) of the liquid.
F
 Surface tension T =
L
 F  TL
Unit of surface tension Nm 1 .
Notes:
The resultant cohesive force on the molecules acts in a direction perpendicular to the surface
 and towards the inside of the liquid while surface tension acts parallel to the surface.
If we imagine a line of unit length in the middle of the surface of the liquid, the molecules on the
 both the sides of exert forces which are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction. Hence
 effect of surface tension is not felt in the middle of the surface.
At the edge of the surface there are no molecules on the other side of the edge. So surface
 tension manifests there, parallel to the surface and perpendicular to the edge in the
inward direction.

CONCISE EXPLANATION
In Fig., PQRS is the surface film of a liquid. Consider the molecule A well inside the liquid. It is
attracted equally in all directions by the molecules lying in its sphere of influence. Net force on such
a molecule is zero.

Now consider molecule B lying inside the surface film. Its sphere of influence lies partly outside.
This molecule experiences less force upward and more force downward by the molecules in its
sphere of influence. For molecule C, half its sphere of influence lies above the surface. The resultant
downward force on such a molecule is maximum. Due to this downward force, the potential energy
of the molecules of the surface film is higher than those lying well inside the liquid. For a system to
be stable, potential energy must be minimum. For the surface film to have minimum energy, the
number of molecules in it must be minimum. Thus the surface film tends to have minimum surface
area. As a result, the free surface of a liquid at rest behaves like an elastic stretched membrane.

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(22) Explain some examples which illustrate the existence of surface tension.

Ans: Examples to illustrate surface tension:

(i) Endless wet thread on a soap film: If we take a circular frame of a stiff wire and dip it into a
soap solution, a thin soap film is formed on the frame. If a wet endless thread loop is gently placed
over the film, it takes any irregular shape. But when the film is pricked at the centre, the loop is
stretched outwards and takes a symmetrical circular shape. This is because for a given length a circle
has the maximum surface area and so the outer liquid film tries to occupy minimum possible area
like a stretched elastic membrane.

(ii) Rain drops are generally spherical in shape:

Due to surface tension, the rain drops tend to minimise their surface area and the surface area of a
sphere is minimum for a given volume.
(iii) Small mercury droplets are spherical and larger ones tend to flattened: Small mercury
droplets are spherical because the forces of surface tension tend to reduce their area to a minimum
value and a sphere has minimum surface area for a given volume.

Larger drops of mercury are flattened due to the large gravitational force acting on them. Here the
shape is such that the sum of the gravitational potential energy and the surface potential energy must
be minimum. Hence the centre of gravity moves down as low as possible. This explains flattening of
the larger drops.
(iv) The hair of a painting brush cling together when taken out of water: This is because the
water films formed on them tend to contract to minimum area.

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(23) Explain surface tension with reference to potential energy.

DETAILED EXPLANATION

Ans: The molecules in the surface of liquid have a tendency to go down inside the liquid.
This behaviour can be explained on the basis of potential energy of liquid.
 If any molecule inside the liquid is to be brought up in the surface, work has to be done on it
against the downward force acting on it.
 When such a molecule reaches the surface it acquires potential energy equal to work done on
it.
Thus potential energy of the molecule on the surface is more than that of the molecules below the
surface.

 Now a system always tries to remain in such a state where its potential energy is minimum.
 Molecules in the surface of liquid have a tendency to reduce their potential energy and
surface of liquid has tendency to contract in such a way that its area becomes minimum.
 The molecules coming to the surface does not occupy a place between two molecules already
present in the surface but generates new surface means the surface gets extended.
 The whole surface of a liquid can be considered to have been generated this way. Thus
molecules on the surface of liquid possess potential energy equal to work done on them in bringing
them to the surface.
 The potential energy stored In the surface of liquid per unit area is known as surface tension
(T) of the liquid.
E(workdone)
 Tension T (surface energy) =
A
Unit of surface tension (T) of the liquid is Jm–2.

CONCISE EXPLANATION

Surface energy: The free surface of a liquid possesses minimum area due to surface tension. To
increase the surface area, molecules have to be brought from interior to the surface. Work has to be
done against the forces of attraction. This work is stored as the potential energy of the molecules on
the surface. So the molecules at the surface have extra energy compared to the molecules in the
interior.
The extra energy possessed by the molecules of surface film of unit area compared to the molecules
in the interior is called surface energy. It is equal to the work done in increasing the area of the
surface film by unit amount.
Work done
Surface energy 
Increase in surface area
The SI unit of surface energy is Jm-2.

Notes:  Surface tension of liquid depends on the type of liquid and its temperature.
 Surface tension decreases with increase in temperature and at critical
temperature it becomes zero.
 The surface tension of liquid also depends on the type of medium in contact.

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(24) Define surface energy. Prove that it is numerically equal to the surface tension. OR
Experimentally show that work done to increase the unit surface area of a liquid is equal to surface
tension.

Ans: Suppose surface tension of a given liquid at a given temperature is T.

 If the surface of liquid is to be increased, by unit at constant temperature, the work required
to be done on it is T.
 But when a surface expands, its temperature decreases. Hence to expand the surface at
constant temperature, heat should be supplied from outside during its expansion.
 Thus, by increasing the surface of liquid by; unit, so new surface so formed gets thermal
energy over and above the potential energy equal to surface tension.
 So total surface energy per unit area = potential energy (surface tension) + surface tension.
 At any temperature the value of surface energy is more than surface tension. Both surface
tension and surface energy decreases with; increase in temperature. At critical temperature j they
become zero. Critical temperature of water; is 374°C.

The relation between surface energy and surface tension:

Consider a rectangular frame ABCD in which the wire AB is movable. Dip the frame in soap
solution. A film is formed which pulls the wire AB inward due to surface tension with a force,

F=2l
notes: (In some reference book surface tension symbol used is  instead of T)
Here the factor 2 is taken because the soap film has two free surfaces.

T
T F=2Tl
T

Suppose AB is moved out through distance x to the position AB. Then

Work done = Force  distance
=2lx
Increase in surface area of film = 2 lx
Work done
 Surface energy 
Increase in surface area
2 T lx
 T
2lx
Thus surface energy of liquid is numerically equal to its surface tension.

*(25) Describe a simple experiment for measuring the surface tension of a liquid.

Ans: Measurement of surface tension: As shown in Fig., suspend a rectangular glass plate from one arm
of a sensitive balance. Place a beaker containing some liquid below it. The plate is balanced by
weights on the other side, with its lower edge just above water.

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 The beaker is raised slightly till the liquid just touches the glass plate and pulls it down a little
because of surface tension. Weights are added on the other side till the glass plate just leaves the
water surface. If the additional weight required is W, then the surface tension of the liquid-air
interface will be
W mg
Tla  
2l 2l
where m is the extra mass added and l is the length of the plate edge.

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