141. Explain why is steel or iron used widely in constructing bridges?

 

142. Why are wires used in constructing bridges made of a cluster of strings but not a single rod?

This phenomenon is related to the yielding stress. .
 

143. Why is there a split in the nib of a pen?

 

Ans: The function of a pen is to ensure a uniform flow of ink to the tip of pen for proper writing. In addition to uniformity, it should be extremely slow for fine writing. The major component of ink is water which wets other substance with its high adhesive capacity and surface tension.  

When a split is made, it resembles a capillary tube. Since the split has a small separation, it resembles small ‘r’. So liquid slides along the tube away from the mass to other locations according to the equation . This will carry the ink to enough extent, i.e. up to the tip (large ‘h’ due to small ‘r’).

 

144. Explain why is the pressure given by a mercury barometer less than the actual value?

 

Ans: The readings in a mercury barometer is the height of mercury the atmospheric pressure can hold up. Mercury is exerting a downward force (equal to its weight) whereas atmospheric pressure tries to counter it (hold it up). But at the surface, the phenomena of surface tension acts extra force on the mercury mass. Mercury is a substance which has high cohesive force, i.e. it wants to cling to itself. So there is a net downward force on the surface at the very top, which slightly reduces the height recorded. The reduction in height due to surface tension is given by the relation . So the overall reading will be slightly reduced. (The reduction will however be very small since the density of mercury is very high).

 

145. The ends of a glass tube become round on heating. Why?

 

Ans: When heated, the glass tube melts slowly, changing into liquid state. The surface then is acted by the surface tension force (a characteristic of liquids) which makes the molecules be limited and as packed as possible. This makes it take as minimum volume possible. This is possible only if the surface becomes spherical, i.e. round.

 

146. Can you use water instead of mercury in a barometer to read atmospheric pressure?

 

Ans: The process is impractical for two reasons. One is that there is the need for a very long tube if water is used (10.3 m for water instead of 0.76 m in case of mercury). The other is the action of surface tension. In case of mercury the net downward force due to surface tension is downwards which reduces the reading slightly (because of high density). In water, however, there is a net upward force. The increase in this height due to surface tension is more because of less density of water. So the reading will be very high than the actual readings.

 

147. Why does a small pin when placed gently over the surface of water floats?

 

Ans: A pin is usually made of metals which definitely has a higher density than water. So theoretically, it should sink. However, when it is slowly placed on water surface, the surface first depresses slightly, causing it to extend and become tight slightly. So it comes under tension and, which develops s tendency to return to initial state. This causes a resultant upward force. Since water has high value of surface tension than others, the resultant force is also high and so it can overcome the effect of gravity which holds the pin up. However, if it is placed abruptly, the surface breaks and in no way that it can hold up the pin.


148. What happens to the surface tension of a liquid when the temperature rises?

Surface tension is due to mutual attraction of molecules, specially the molecules of the surface in overall by the inner molecules. when the temperature rises, the molecules show a higher degree of motion because of increased kinetic energy. This takes the molecules farther away from each other, causing an increase in the distances in between them. So, the attractive forces are slightly reduced. the effect of this is the reduction of attraction inside as well as at the surface. So the surface tension decreases.

149. Particles of camphor move around randomly on the surface of water. Why?

Ans: Water is a substance with very high surface tension, i.e. its surface will act as a tough layer for any other substance placed on it. When camphor is placed on it, camphor spreads on it rapidly (with a very very high velocity compared to others). The phenomena of spreading is random and not uniform. When they spread, they give opposite force on the camphor piece. In addition, the faces of camphor is very randomly oriented, So when they spread and wherever they spread, the camphor will move in opposite direction, causing very very random motion.

 

150. How does a 'towel' work?

Towel is made of cotton or any other fabric, which consists of very thin fibers interwoven on each other. This causes the formation of a lot of thin channels in between them which act as the capillary tubes. So when a towel is placed over wet surface, water climbs into these channels according to the relation

151. When a chalk piece is immersed in water, why are bubbles emitted?

 

Ans: Chalk consists of a lot of fine pores in it which are interconnected with each other to form thin channels. So when it is immersed in water, water travels through the channels according to the relation 

 

152. Explain why are small water drops spherical in shape?

                  or
     Explain why large drops are flat in shape?

 

Ans: When water drops are smaller, the surface tension forces along the surface, produce overall resultant forces towards the center. This presses and packs the molecules as inward as possible. This results in their assumption of a spherical shape. At that time, since the mass involved is more, the force of gravity (i.e. the downward force) is less.

 

However, when the drop is large, the surface tension has to hold more amount of molecules, which is itself tougher than in case of small drops. Besides, the mass is now large, so the force of gravity will be high. The molecules, instead of being directed towards the center also receive a downward force. so some molecules slide downwards, giving the whole drop a flatter shape.

154. Water rises in the capillary but mercury gets depressed. Explain why?

 

155. Why is a liquid in contact with a solid has normally a curved surface?

 

156. Why is it easier to wash clothes in hot water or soap solution or by the use of a detergent?

 

Ans: The phenomena of washing clothes is related to the access of water to dirt and other unwanted substances and carry them away. This requires that water does not block itself and others because of its high surface tension. This requires that the surface tension of water be reduced, which can be achieved by adding some foreign substances as detergents and soap. Besides, the increase of temperature also decreases the surface tension, so water can reach every region and clean them.

157. Water spreads on a clean glass plate, while the mercury on the same glass attains drops. Explain why?

Ans: This phenomena has much to do with the dominance of the adhesive or the cohesive forces. When water is placed on the glass surface, the adhesive forces dominate over the cohesive and so glass will try to attract as much water as possible. So water spreads easily. on the other hand, mercury has a high value of cohesive force compared to the adhesive force, and so tries to avoid glass as much as possible. Due to which it takes up a round shape in the form of drops. 
 

158. Why does addition of foreign substances in water decreases its surface tension?

Water is one of the substance having greatest value of surface tension, for which the attraction between their molecules play the main role. When any foreign substance is added, they come in between water molecules, which decreases the overall attractive force between them. This reduction is seen at the surface also and so the surface tension also decreases. Addition of detergents and soaps in water takes advantage of this phenomenon.
 

159. Capillary of insufficient height is dipped in a liquid. Will the liquid over flow? Explain.

Ans: No, and never. The phenomenon is cleared by the following treatment.

 

 

These relations show that the radius of curvature of the meniscus depends on the height available for it to expand. Less the height available, more is the radius of curvature of the meniscus. The maximum value 'R' can achieve is infinite, when the height is 0, i.e. the glass tube is taken to the level of the liquid. Below that there is no question of overflowing.

 

160. Oil like kerosene, petrol is poured on stagnant water to avoid mosquitoes attack. Does this mean that such oils are poisonous to them?

 

Ans: No, the phenomenon is more physical rather than chemical. Water has high surface tension whereas petroleum has less. So when they are poured on water they spread easily and completely on water. This will make them form a uniform but thin layer over water. When insects come to land on them or the eggs fall on the surface, they get drowned because such layers can not hold them (the reason is less surface tension). Once they are drowned, the oxygen supply is cut off and this kills them.