SURFACE TENSION

1. A small soap bubble of radius 4cm is trapped inside another bubble of radius 6cm without any
contact.Let P2be the pressure inside the inner bubble and P0the pressure outside the outer bubble.
Radius ofanother bubble with pressure difference P2 - P0 between its inside and outside would be :
(2018)
(a) 2.4cm
(b) 12cm
(c) 4.8cm
(d) 6cm

2. The following observations were taken for determining surface tension T of water by capillary
method. Diameter of capillary, d = 1.25 × 10-2 in rise of water, h= 145 × 10-2m. Using g = 9.80 m/s2
rhg
and the simplified relation T= ×103 N/m , the possible error in surface tension is 2 closest to
2
(2017)
(a) 1.5%
(b) 2.4%
(c)10%
(d) 0.15%

3. On heating water, bubble beings formed at the bottom of the vessel detach and rise. Take the
bubbles to be spheres of radius R and making a circular contact of radius R and making a circular
contact of radius r with the bottom of the vessel. If r << R and the surface tension of water is T, value
of r just before bubbles detach is (density of water is ρ) (2014)

2 w g
(a) R
3T
2 w g
(b) R
6T
2 3 w g
(c) R
T
(d) None of these

4. Assume that a drop of liquid evaporates by decrease in its surface energy, so that its temperature
remains unchanged. What should be the minimum radius of the drop for this to be possible? The
surface tension is T, denstiy of liquid is ρ and L is its latent heat of vaporisation (2013)
L
(a)
T
T
(b)
L

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 T
(c)
L
2T
(d)
L

5. A glass tube of uniform internal radius (r) has a valve separating the two identical ends. Initially,
the valve is in a tightly closed position. End 1 has a hemispherial soap bubble of radius r. End 2 has
sub-hemispherical soap bubble as shown in figure. Just after opening the valve. (2008)

(a) air from end 1 flows towards end 2. No change in the volume of the soap bubbles
(b) air from end 1 flows towards end 2. Volume of the soap bubble at end 1 decreases
(c) no change occurs
(d) air from end 2 flows towards end 1. Volume of the soap bubble at end 1 increases

6. Water is filled up to a height h in a beaker of radius R as shown in the figure. The density of water
isρ, the surface tension of water is T and the atmospheric pressure is p. Consider a vertical section
ABCD of the water column through a diameter of the breaker. The force on water on one side of this
section by water on the other side of this section has magnitude (2007)

(a) | 2 p0 Rh +  R 2  gh − 2 RT |
(b) | 2 p0 Rh + R  gh 2 − 2 RT |
(c) | p0 R 2 + R  gh 2 − 2 RT |
(d) | p0 R 2 + R  gh 2 + 2 RT |

7. A thin metal disc of radius r float on water surface and bends the surface downwards along the
perimeter making an angle θ with vertical edge of the disc. If the disc displaces a weight of water w
and surface tension of water is T, then the weight of metal disc is
(a) 2 rT + w
(b) 2 rT cos − w
(c) 2 rT cos + w
(d) w − 2 rT cos

8. A ring is cut from a platinum tube 8.5 cm internal diameter and 8.7 cm external diameter. It is
supported horizontally from a pan of a balance so, that it comes in contact with the water is in glass
vessel. If an extra 3.47 g-wt is required to pull it away from water, surface tension of water is
(a) 72.07 dyne cm-1
(b) 70.80 dyne cm-1
(c) 65.35 dyne cm-1

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(d) 60.00 dyne cm-1

9. What is the pressure inside the drop of mercury of radius 3.00 mm at room temperature? Surface
tension of mercury at that temperature (200C) is 4.65 × 10-1 N/m. The atmospheric pressure is 101 ×
105 Pa. Also give the excess pressure inside the drop.
(a) 1.01 × 105 Pa, 320Pa
(b) 1.01 × 105 Pa, 310Pa
(c) 310 Pa, 1.01 × 105Pa
(d) 320 Pa, 1.01 × 105Pa

10. What is the radius of the biggest aluminium coin of thickness, t and density ρ, which will still be
able to float on the water surface of surface tension S?
4S
(a)
3 gt
3S
(b)
4  gt
2S
(c)
 gt
S
(d)
 gt

11. 8000 identical water drops are combined to form a big drop then the ratio to the final surface
energy to the initial surface energy, if all the drops together is
(a) 1 : 10
(b) 1 :15
(c) 1 : 20
(d) 1 : 25

12. A frame made of a metallic wire enclosing a surface area A is covered with a soap film. If the area
of the frame of metallic wire is reduced by 50%, the energy of the soap film will be changed by
(a) 100 %
(b) 75 %
(c) 50 %
(d) 25 %

13. A mercury drop of radius 1 cm is broken into 106 droplets of equal size.
The work done is (S = 35 × 10-2 Nm-1)
(a) 4.35 × 10-2J
(b) 4.35 × 10-3 J
(c) 4.35 × 10-6 J
(d) 4.35 × 10-8 J

14. Surface tension of a soap solution is able of 2.0 cm diameter will be

(a) 7.6 × 10-6πJ
(b) 15.2 × 10-6πJ
(c) 1.9 × 10-6πJ
(d) 1 × 10-4πJ

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15. A drop of water breaks into two droplets of equal size. ln this process, which of the following
statements is correct?
(a) The sum of the temperatures of the two droplets together is equal to temperature of the original
drop
(b) The sum of the masses of the two droplets is equal to mass of drop
(c) The sum of the radii of the two droplets is equal to the radius of the drop
(d) The sum of the surface areas of the two droplets is equal to the surface area of the original drop

16. Work done in splotting a drop of water of 1mm radius no 106 droplets is (surface tension of
water 72 × 10-3J / m2)
(a)9.8 × 10-5J
(b)8.95 × 10-5J
(c) 5.89 × 10-5J
(d) 5.98 × 10-6J

17. A drop of liquid of diameter 2 8 mm breaks up into identical drops. The change in energy is
nearly IlS = 75 dyne cm-1)
(a) zero
(b) 19 erg
(c) 46 erg
(d) 74 erg

18. The surface energy of a liquid drop is u. It is sprayed 1000 equal droplets. Then its surface energy
becomes
(a) u
(b) 10 u
(c) 100 u
(d) 1000 u

19. A water film is made between two straight parallel wires of length 10 cm separated by 5 mm
from each other. If the distance between the wires is increased by 2 mm. How much work will be
done? Surface tension for water is 72 dyne cm-1.
(a) 288 erg
(b) 72 erg
(c) 144 erg
(d) 216 erg

20. What change in surface energy will be noticed when a drop of radius R splits up into 1000
droplets of radius r, surface tension T ?
(a) 4 πR2T
(b) 7 πR2T
(c)16 πR2T
(d) 36 πR2T

21. Let, W be the work done, when a bubble of volume V is formed from a given solution. How much
work is required to be done to form a bubble of volume 2 V ?
(a) W
(b) 2W
(c) 21/3 W
(d) 41/3 W

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22. What is the ratio of surface energy of 1 small drop and 1 large drop if 1000 drops combined to
form 1 large drop?
(a) 100 : 1
(b) 1000: 1
(c) 10 : 1
(d) 1 : 100

23. A bigger drop of radius R is converted into n smaller drops of radius r, the required energy is
(a) (4 r 2 n − 4 R2 )T
4 4 
(b)   r 3 n −  R 3  T
3 3 
(c) (4 R − 4 r )nT
2 2

(d) (n4 r 2 − 4 R2 )T

24. The angle of contact at the interface of water-glass is 00Ethylalcohol-glass is 00, Mercury-glass is
1400 and Methyliodide-glass is 300. A glass capillary is put in a trough Containing one of these four
liquids. It is observed that the meniscus is convex. The liquid in the trough is
(a) water
(b) ethylalcohol
(c) mercury
(d) methyliodide

25. The diagram shows three soap bubbles A, B and C prepared by blowing the capillary tube fitted
with stop cocks S, S1, S2 and S3. With stop cock S closed and stop cocks S1, S2 and S3 opened

(a) B will start collapsing with volumes of A and C increasing

(b) C will start collapsing with volume of A and B increasing
(c) volume of A, B and C will become equal in equilibrium
(d) C and A will both start collapsing with volume of B increasing

26. The amount of work done in blowing a soap bubble such that its diameter increases from d to D
is (S = surface tension of solution)
(a)  ( D2 − d 2 )S
(b) 2 ( D 2 − d 2 ) S
(c) 4 ( D 2 − d 2 ) S
(d) 8 ( D2 − d 2 )S

2
27. If pressure at half the depth of a lake is equal to pressure at the bottom of the lake then what
3
is the depth of the lake?
(a) 10 m
(b) 20 m
(c) 60 m

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(d) 30 m

28. In a test experiment on a model aeroplane in a wind tunnel, the flow speeds on the upper and
lower surfaces of the wing are 70 m/s and 63 m/s respectively. What is the lift on the wing, if its area
is 2.5 m2? Take the density of air to be 1.3 kg/m3.
(a) 5.1 × 102 N
(b) 6.1 × 102 N
(c)1.6 × 103N
(d)1.5×103 N

29. With the increase in temperature, the angle of contact

(a) decreases
(b) increases
(c) remains constant
(d) sometimes increases and sometimes decreases

30. Water rises to a height of 10 cm in a capillary tube and mercury falls to a depth of 3.42 cm in the
same capillary tube. If the density of mercury and water are 1350 and 00 respectively, the ratio of
surface tension of water and mercury is
(a) 1 : 0.15
(b) 1 : 3
(c) 1 :6.5
(d)1.5 : 1

31. Water rises to a height of 16.3 cm in a capillary of height 18 cm above the water level. If the tube
is cut at a height of 12 cm in the capillary tube,
(a) water will come as a fountain from the capillary tube
(b) water will stay at a height of 12 cm in the capillary tube
(c) the height of water in the capillary tube will be 10.3 cm
(d) water height flow down the sides of the capillary tube

32. Water rises in a capillary tube to a height h. It will rise to a height more than h
(a) on the surface of sun
(b) in a lift moving down with an acceleration
(c) at the poles
(d) in a lift moving up with an acceleration

33. If a liquid is placed in a vertical cylindrical vessel and the vessel is rotated about its axis, the liquid
will take the shape of figure.
(a)

(b)

(c)

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(d)

34. By inserting a capillary tube upto a depth l in the water rises to a height h. If the lower end of the
capillary tube is closed inside water and the capillary is taken out and closed end opened, to what
height the water will remain in the tube, when l >h
(a) zero
(b) l + h
(c) 2 h
(d) h

35. Two capillary tubes of radii 0.2 cm and 0.4 cm are dipped in the same liquid. The ratio of heights
through which liquid will rise in the tubes is
(a)1 : 2
(b) 2 :1
(c) 1 : 4
(d) 4 : 1

36. The rate of flow of liquid through a capillary tube of radius r is V, when the pressure difference
across the two ends of the capillary is p. If pressure is increased by 3 p and radius is reduced to r/2,
then the rate of flow becomes
(a) V/9
(b) 3V/8
(c) V/4
(d) V/3

37. Water in a vessel of uniform cross-section escapes through a narrow tube at the base of the
vessel. Which graph given below represents the variation of the height h of the liquid with time t?
(a)

(b)

(c)

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(d)

38. When a pinch of salt or any other salt which is soluble in water is added to water, its surface
(a) Increases
(b) decreases
(c) may Increase or decrease depending upon salt
(d) None of the above

39. At which of the following temperatures, the values of surface tension of water is minimum?
(a) 40C
(b) 250 C
(c) 500 C
(d) 750 C

40. Two spherical soap bubbles of radii a and b in vacuum coalesce under isothermal conditions. The
resulting bubble has a radius given by
( a + b)
(a)
2
ab
(b)
a+b
(c) a + b
2 2

(d) a + b

41. When two soap bubbles of radius r1 and r2 (r2> r1) coalesce, the radius of curvature of common
surface is
(a) ( r2 − r1 )
(b) ( r2 + r1 )
r2 − r1
(c)
r1r2
rr
(d) 2 1
r2 − r1

42. Which graph represent the variation of surface tension with temperature over small
temperature ranges for water?
(a)

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(b)

(c)

(d)

43. A capillary tube of radius R and length L is connected m series with another tube of radius R/2
and length L/4. If the pressure difference across the two tubes taken together is p, then the ratio of
pressure difference across the first tube to that across the second tube is
(a)1 : 4
(b) 1 :1
(c) 4 :1
(d) 2 : 1

44. The relative velocity of two parallel layers of water is 8 cms-1. If the perpendicular distance
between the layers is 0.1 cm, then velocity gradient will be
(a) 40 s-1
(b) 50 s-1
(c) 60 s-1
(d) 80 s-1

45. Two water pipes P and Q having diameter 2 × 10-2 m and 4 × 10-2 m respectively are joined in
series with the main supply line of water. The velocity of water flowing in pipe P is
(a) 4 times that of Q
(b) 2 times that of Q
(c) 1/2 times that of Q
(d) 1/4 times that of Q

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 ANSWER KEYS

1.(a) 2. (a) 3. (a) 4. (d) 5. (b) 6. (b) 7. (c) 8. (a) 9. (b) 10. (c) 11. (c) 12. (c) 13. (a) 14. (b) 15. (b) 16. (b)
17. (d) 18. (b) 19. (a) 20. (d) 21. (d) 22. (d) 23. (d) 24. (c) 25. (b) 26. (b) 27. (b) 28. (d) 29. (a) 30. (c) 31.
(b) 32. (b) 33. (c) 34.(c) 35. (b) 36. (c) 37. (a) 38. (a) 39. (d) 40. (c) 41. (d) 42. (b) 43. (a) 44. (d) 45. (a)

SOLUTIONS

1. (a)

2. (a)

3. (d)

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4. (d)

5. (b)

6. (b)

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7. (c)

8. (a)

9. (b)

10. (c)

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11. (c)

12. (c)

13. (a)

14. (b)

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15. (b)

When two drops are split, the law of conservation of mass is obeyed.

16. (b)

17. (d)

18. (b)

19. (a)

20. (d)

21. (d)

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22. (d)

23. (d)

24. (c)

25. (b)

26. (b)

27. (b)

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28. (d)

29. (a)

With the increase in temperature, the surface tension of liquid decreases and angle of contact also
decreases.

30. (c)

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31. (b)

32. (b)

33. (c)

34.(c)

35. (b)

36. (c)

37. (a)

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38. (a)

When highly soluble salt (like sodium chloride) is dissolved in water, the surface tension of water
increases.

39. (d)

Surface tension of water decreases with rise in temperature.

40. (c)

41. (d)

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42. (b)

43. (a)

44. (d)

45. (a)

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