# Surface tension problem

1. May 8, 2014

### sunquick

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
A loop of cotton floats on the surface of some water. A little detergent is dropped onto the water surface inside the loop, and the loop opens out and becomes circular. Explain why this happens. Draw a diagram showing the forces acting on a short length of the circumference of the loop has been added. Explain how the short length is in mechanical equilibrium

2. Relevant equations
To calculate the force on the string
$\textbf{F} = \gamma L$
$\gamma$ is the surface tension in the water-soap boundary
$L$ is the length of string we're considering.

$dW = \gamma dA$

3. The attempt at a solution
From a mechanics point of view, because the detergent lowers the surface tension inside the loop, the water outside the loop pulls the string with a larger force. From an energy point of view, I think that the water surface is minimized by maximizing the area of detergent, and that is achieved by turning the loop into a circle.

I don't know how to put this description into a mathematical statement, since I don't understand fluid mechanics very well. That's why I'm also struggling with the part where I'm asked to explain the mechanical equilibrium. Considering that the water outside has a larger pull than the detergent inside, and they are acting on the same length of string, I don't see how mechanical equilibrium can be achieved.

As a side question,are there any good books dealing with surface tension effects and how they can be explained mathematically? The ntroductory fluid mechanics books I looked into mention surface tension only in the first chapters and don't go into great detail about it.

2. May 8, 2014

### Staff: Mentor

You have it doped out correctly. But another feature of the system is that the loop is going to be under tension. This is what it will take to make good on the mechanical equilibrium. Take a small arc of the loop, and let T be the tension at the ends of the section. Because the section of the loop is curved, the net force of the tension on the section will be radially inward. This will balance the difference in surface tension forces between the outside and the inside of the loop.

Chet

3. May 9, 2014

### sunquick

So it will be an analogue of the pressure difference between the inside and the outside of a bubble of liquid. The tension of the string plays a similiar role to the pressure difference in this case.

4. May 9, 2014

Yes.