Surface Tension and Viscosity - NEET Physics Questions
← Back to Solid and Fluids

Surface Tension and Viscosity

Question 1: moderate

The terminal velocity of a copper ball of radius 2.0 mm falling through a tank of oil at 20°C is 6.5 cms–1. Calculate the viscosity of the oil at 20°C. (Density of oil is \[1.7\times 10^{3}kgm^{-3}\] and density of copper is \[8.9\times 10^{3}kgm^{-3}\]) :

1. \[0.69 kg m^{-1} s^{-1}\]
2. \[0.79 kg m^{-1} s^{-1}\]
3. \[0.29 kg m^{-1} s^{-1}\]
4. \[0.99 kg m^{-1} s^{-1}\]
View Answer
Question 2: moderate

A lead sphere of mass m falls in viscous liquid with terminal velocity v0. Another lead sphere of mass M falls through the same viscous liquid with terminal velocity 4v0. the ratio M/m is :

1. 2
2. 4
3. 8
4. 16
View Answer
Question 3: moderate

A long capillary is dipped in a beaker containing water. Water rises in capillary upto some height \(h\). Match the statements in list-I with most appropriate effects on water level mentioned in list-II:


**List-I**
(A) Soap solution is added to water
(B) Arrangement taken in a freely falling lift
(C) In a lift accelerating uniformly upward
(D) Arrangement is taken in a lift accelerating uniformly downward


**List-II**
(p) \(h\) decreases
(q) \(h\) increases
(r) \(h\) remains same
(s) water will rise upto complete height of capillary
(t) water level in capillary goes below the outside level


 

1. A - p, B - t, C - q, D - p
2. A - t, B - q, C - s, D - p
3. A - p, B - s, C - p, D - q
4. A - q, B - p, C - s, D - q
View Answer

Soap reduces surface tension, so \(h\) decreases (A-p). In a free fall, effective gravity \(g_{eff} = 0\), so water rises to full height (B-s). Upward acceleration increases \(g_{eff}\) hence \(h\) decreases (C-p). Downward acceleration decreases \(g_{eff}\) hence \(h\) increases (D-q).

Question 4: moderate

The velocity of a small ball of mass \(M\) and density \(d\), when dropped in a container filled with glycerine becomes constant after some time. If the density of glycerine is \(\frac{d}{2}\), then the viscous force acting on the ball will be

1. 2Mg
2. Mg/2
3. Mg
4. 3/2 Mg
View Answer

When the ball reaches terminal velocity, net force is zero: \(F_v + F_B = Mg\). The buoyant force is \(F_B = V \rho_{\text{glycerine}} g = V \left(\frac{d}{2}\right) g = \frac{Mg}{2}\). Thus, the viscous force is \(F_v = Mg - \frac{Mg}{2} = \frac{Mg}{2}\).

Question 5: moderate

If a soap bubble expands, the pressure inside the bubble :

(2022)

1. Is equal to the atmospheric pressure
2. Decreases
3. Increases
4. Remains the same
View Answer

The excess pressure inside a soap bubble is given by $\Delta P = \frac{4T}{R}$. As the bubble expands, its radius $R$ increases. Therefore, the excess pressure (and total pressure inside) decreases.

Question 6: moderate

A soap bubble, having radius of $1 \text{ mm}$, is blown from a detergent solution having a surface tension of $2.5 \times 10^{-2} \text{ N/m}$. The pressure inside the bubble equals at a point $Z_0$ below the free surface of water in a container. Taking $g = 10 \text{ m/s}^2$, density of water $= 10^3 \text{ kg/m}^3$, the value of $Z_0$ is :

(2019)

1. $100 \text{ cm}$
2. $10 \text{ cm}$
3. $1 \text{ cm}$
4. $0.5 \text{ cm}$
View Answer

Pressure inside the bubble is $P = P_0 + \frac{4T}{r}$. Pressure at depth $Z_0$ is $P = P_0 + \rho g Z_0$. Equating them, $\rho g Z_0 = \frac{4T}{r}$. Solving gives $Z_0 = \frac{4 \times 2.5 \times 10^{-2}}{10^{-3} \times 10^3 \times 10} = 10^{-2} \text{ m} = 1 \text{ cm}$.

Question 7: moderate

A rectangular film of liquid is extended from $(4 \text{ cm} \times 2 \text{ cm})$ to $(5 \text{ cm} \times 4 \text{ cm})$. If the work done is $3 \times 10^{-4} \text{ J}$, the value of the surface tension of the liquid is:

(2016 – II)

1. $0.2 \text{ Nm}^{-1}$
2. $8.0 \text{ Nm}^{-1}$
3. $0.250 \text{ Nm}^{-1}$
4. $0.125 \text{ Nm}^{-1}$
View Answer

Work done in stretching a liquid film is $W = T \times 2\Delta A$ (since it has two surfaces). The change in area is $\Delta A = (5 \times 4) - (4 \times 2) = 12 \text{ cm}^2 = 12 \times 10^{-4} \text{ m}^2$. Thus, $$T = \frac{3 \times 10^{-4}}{2 \times 12 \times 10^{-4}} = 0.125 \text{ Nm}^{-1}$$.

Question 8: moderate

A liquid does not wet the solid surface if angle of contact is:

(2020-Covid)

1. Equal to $60^\circ$
2. Greater than $90^\circ$
3. Zero
4. Equal to $45^\circ$
View Answer

For a liquid to not wet a solid surface, it must form an obtuse angle of contact. Therefore, the angle of contact must be greater than $90^\circ$.

Question 9: moderate

A capillary tube of radius $r$ is immersed in water and water rises in it to a height $h$. The mass of the water in the capillary is $5\text{ g}$. Another capillary tube of radius $2r$ is immersed in water. The mass of water that will rise in this tube is:

(2020)

1. $5.0\text{ g}$
2. $10.0\text{ g}$
3. $20.0\text{ g}$
4. $2.5\text{ g}$
View Answer

Mass of water risen in capillary $m = \pi r^2 h \rho$. Since $h \propto \frac{1}{r}$, we get $m \propto r$. Thus, $m_2 = m_1 \left(\frac{r_2}{r_1}\right) = 5 \times \left(\frac{2r}{r}\right) = 10\text{ g}$.

Question 10: moderate

Three liquids of densities $\rho_1$, $\rho_2$ and $\rho_3$ (with $\rho_1 > \rho_2 > \rho_3$), having the same value of surface tension $T$, rise to the same height in three identical capillaries. The angles of contact $\theta_1$, $\theta_2$ and $\theta_3$ obey:

(2016 – II)

1. $\frac{\pi}{2} < \theta_1 < \theta_2 < \theta_3 < \pi$
2. $\pi > \theta_1 > \theta_2 > \theta_3 > \frac{\pi}{2}$
3. $\frac{\pi}{2} > \theta_1 > \theta_2 > \theta_3 \ge 0$
4. $0 \le \theta_1 < \theta_2 < \theta_3 < \frac{\pi}{2}$
View Answer

Capillary rise $h = \frac{2T \cos\theta}{r \rho g}$. Since $h, T, r, g$ are constant, $\cos\theta \propto \rho$. Since $\rho_1 > \rho_2 > \rho_3$, $\cos\theta_1 > \cos\theta_2 > \cos\theta_3$. For acute angles, this means $$0 \le \theta_1 < \theta_2 < \theta_3 < \frac{\pi}{2}$$.