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surface tension
physics
surface tension; soap bubbles
surface tension, property of a liquid surface displayed by its acting as if it were a stretched elastic membrane. This phenomenon can be observed in the nearly spherical shape of small drops of liquids and of soap bubbles. Because of this property, certain insects can stand on the surface of water. A razor blade also can be supported by the surface tension of water. The razor blade is not floating: if pushed through the surface, it sinks through the water. Surface tension depends mainly upon the forces of attraction between the particles within the given liquid and also upon the ...(100 of 327 words)