1. Medical Equipment Technology Department
Experiment Number 1 Measurement the surface tension using the “break-away” method
Dr. Amr A. Abd-Elghany

2. Objects of the experiment
Creating a liquid layer between the edge of a metal ring and the surface of the liquid.
Measuring the tensile force acting on the metal ring just before the liquid layer breaks away.
Determining the surface tension from the measured tensile force.

3. Principles
Molecules inside the liquid are surrounded by molecules in all directions.
The surface tension is the unbalanced attraction of molecules at the surface of a liquid which tends to pull the molecules back into the bulk of the liquid leaving the minimum number of molecules on the surface.
Cohesive forces: forces between
like molecules.
Adhesive forces: forces between
unlike molecules.

4. In order to enlarge the surface i. e
In order to enlarge the surface i.e. to take more molecules to the surface, energy has to be supplied.
Is measured as the energy required to increase the surface area of a liquid by a unit area.
∆𝐸=𝑓.∆𝑥
𝑓 is the tensile force acting on the metal ring.
Surface tension:
𝜎= ∆𝐸 ∆𝐴

5. Where R is the radius of the metal ring.
Method
Surface tension can be measured by means of a metal ring with a sharp edge which at first is immersed in the liquid so that it is completely wetted.
If the ring is slowly taken out of the liquid, a thin layer is pulled up (see fig. 2).
The outside and the inside surface of the liquid layer changes by:
∆𝑨=𝟒.𝝅.𝑹.∆𝒙
Where R is the radius of the metal ring.
𝝈= 𝑭 𝟒.𝝅.𝑹

6. Experimental setup for measuring surface tension using break away method

7. Procedure Determine the diameter of the metal ring.
Make zero adjustment at the dynamometer using the movable tube.
Fill distilled water into the crystallization dish.
Lower the clamp with hook until the metal ring is completely immersed.
Lower the laboratory stand, always observing the tensile force at the dynamometer.
As soon as the edge of the metal ring emerges from the liquid, the liquid layer is formed.

8. Read the tensile force just before the layer breaks away, and take it down.
Pour the distilled water out, and dry the crystallization dish and the metal ring.
Repeat the measurement with ethanol.