| / English Dictionary |
SURFACE TENSION
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
A phenomenon at the surface of a liquid caused by intermolecular forces
Classified under:
Nouns denoting natural phenomena
Hypernyms ("surface tension" is a kind of...):
physical phenomenon (a natural phenomenon involving the physical properties of matter and energy)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "surface tension"):
capillarity; capillary action (a phenomenon associated with surface tension and resulting in the elevation or depression of liquids in capillaries)
interfacial surface tension; interfacial tension (surface tension at the surface separating two non-miscible liquids)
Context examples:
Guaifenesin increases respiratory tract mucus secretions and reduces the viscosity of mucus secretion by reducing adhesiveness and surface tension as well as increasing hydration of mucus, thereby increasing the efficiency of removing accumulated secretions from the upper and lower airways and making cough more productive.
(Phenylephrine/Phenylpropanolamine/Guaifenesin, NCI Thesaurus)
Guaifenesin works by drawing water into respiratory tracts, by which reducing adhesiveness and surface tension of mucus as well as increasing hydration of mucus, thereby reducing the viscosity of mucus and making cough more productive.
(Guaifenesin-DM, NCI Thesaurus)
The fluid mechanics of a water droplet hitting a liquid surface are well-known: when the droplet hits the surface, it causes the formation of a cavity, which quickly recoils due to the surface tension of the liquid, resulting in a rising column of liquid.
(What causes the sound of a dripping tap – and how do you stop it?, University of Cambridge)
"Presumably, putting a few drops of a liquid with lower surface tension than water, like alcohol or vinegar, in the ear would reduce the surface tension force allowing the water to flow out," Baskota said.
(Shaking head to free water in ears could cause brain damage in kids, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)
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