Is surface tension conservative?

Hanyu Ye · Apr 30, 2015

Hello, everybody. Is surface tension a conservative force? I think so, because it is related to surface energy. But I am not 100% sure. Thanks a lot.

Andy Resnick · Apr 30, 2015

Interesting question.

I think 'no', because the contact angle can assume a range of values (hysteresis, canthotaxis) and the surface will still be considered in thermodynamic equilibrium. On the other hand, the existence of capillary waves would seem to imply the converse.

Is surface tension conservative?

Discussion

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Is surface tension conservative?

Discussion

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