(a) Surface tension is the property of a liquid surface that causes it to behave like a stretched elastic membrane, minimizing its surface area. For a given volume, a sphere has the minimum surface area. Thus, surface tension is indeed responsible for pulling liquid drops into a spherical shape, especially when other forces like gravity are weak. This statement is correct. (b) In the absence of gravity (e.g., in space), surface tension becomes the dominant force determining the shape of a liquid. Without gravity distorting the shape, the liquid will naturally form a perfect sphere to minimize its surface energy (related to surface area). This statement is correct. (c) The formation of water drops from a bulk liquid typically occurs when surface tension forces cause a liquid stream or film to break up or detach from a surface. While 'stretching' a mass of water (e.g., a falling stream) can lead to instabilities that result in drop formation, the statement "Formation of water drops occurs, if mass of the water is stretched" is not a precise or universally accurate description of the primary mechanism. Drops form due to instability driven by surface tension, inertia, and sometimes gravity or air resistance, not just stretching in isolation. This statement is questionable and not as fundamentally correct as (a) and (b).
Following are general statements about water drops. (a) Surface tension is responsible for the spherical shape of the water drops. (b) Even in the absence of gravitation, water drops have spherical shape. (c) Formation of water drops occurs, if mass of the water is stretched. Which of the above statement/statements is/are correct?
Asked in MPSC CS Prelims 2013 · Topic: Mechanics (Elasticity (Stress, Strain, Hooke's Law, Elastic Moduli))
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