Surface Tension and Viscosity - NEET Physics Questions
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Surface Tension and Viscosity

Question 21: easy

The increase in pressure required to decrease the 400 litre volume of a liquid by 0.001% is (Bulk modulus of the liquid is \(2.1 \times 10^9 \text{ N/m}^2\))

1. 42 kPa
2. 63 kPa
3. 84 kPa
4. 21 kPa
View Answer

Bulk modulus \(B = -\frac{\Delta P}{\Delta V/V}\). Ignoring the negative sign for magnitude, \(Delta P = B \frac{\Delta V}{V} = (2.1 \times 10^9) \times \left(\frac{0.001}{100}\right) = 2.1 \times 10^4 \text{ Pa} = 21 \text{ kPa}\).

Question 22: easy

Assertion (A): A raindrop after falling through some height attains a constant velocity.


Reason (R): At constant velocity the viscous drag plus buoyant force is just equal to its weight.


 

1. (1) Both (A) & (R) are true and the (R) is the correct explanation of the (A)
2. (2) Both (A) & (R) are true but the (R) is not the correct explanation of the (A)
3. (3) (A) is true but (R) is false
4. (4) Both (A) and (R) are false
View Answer

Assertion (A) is true, as falling objects in a fluid reach terminal velocity when resistive forces balance gravity.


Reason (R) is true, stating the force balance condition for constant velocity: Weight = viscous drag + buoyant force. (R) correctly explains (A).

Question 23: easy

Assertion (A): Water flows faster than honey.


Reason (R): The co-efficient of viscosity of water is less than honey.


 

1. (1) Both (A) & (R) are true and the (R) is the correct explanation of the (A)
2. (2) Both (A) & (R) are true but the (R) is not the correct explanation of the (A)
3. (3) (A) is true but (R) is false
4. (4) Both (A) and (R) are false
View Answer

Concept: Viscosity and fluid resistance. Viscosity is a measure of a fluid's resistance to flow. A fluid with lower viscosity flows more easily and thus faster. Water has a significantly lower coefficient of viscosity than honey. Both Assertion and Reason are true, and Reason correctly explains Assertion.

Question 24: easy

Assertion (A): The angle of contact of a liquid decreases with increase in temperature.


Reason (R): With increase in temperature, the surface tension of liquid increases.


 

1. (1) Both (A) & (R) are true and the (R) is the correct explanation of the (A)
2. (2) Both (A) & (R) are true but the (R) is not the correct explanation of the (A)
3. (3) (A) is true but (R) is false
4. (4) Both (A) and (R) are false
View Answer

Concept: Effect of temperature on liquid properties. Assertion (A) is true; generally, the angle of contact decreases with increasing temperature as intermolecular forces weaken. Reason (R) is false; surface tension of a liquid *decreases* with an increase in temperature, not increases, because the kinetic energy of molecules increases, reducing cohesive forces.

Question 25: easy

Assertion (A): The shape of a liquid drop is spherical.


Reason (R): The pressure inside the drop is greater than that of outside.


 

1. (1) Both (A) & (R) are true and the (R) is the correct explanation of the (A)
2. (2) Both (A) & (R) are true but the (R) is not the correct explanation of the (A)
3. (3) (A) is true but (R) is false
4. (4) Both (A) and (R) are false
View Answer

Concept: Surface tension and pressure difference. Assertion (A) is true because surface tension tends to minimize the surface area of a liquid for a given volume, and a sphere has the minimum surface area. Reason (R) is true; due to surface tension, there is an excess pressure inside a spherical liquid drop, given by \(P_{in} - P_{out} = \frac{2T}{R}\). This excess pressure balances the inward pull of surface tension, thus R correctly explains A.

Question 26: easy

Assertion (A): Surface energy of an oil drop is same whether placed on glass or water surface.


Reason (R): Surface energy is dependent only on the properties of oil.


 

1. (1) Both (A) & (R) are true and the (R) is the correct explanation of the (A)
2. (2) Both (A) & (R) are true but the (R) is not the correct explanation of the (A)
3. (3) (A) is true but (R) is false
4. (4) Both (A) and (R) are false
View Answer

Concept: Interfacial surface energy. Surface energy (or surface tension) is a property of the interface between two phases. It depends on the intermolecular forces between the molecules of *both* substances forming the interface. Therefore, an oil-glass interface will have different surface energy than an oil-water interface. Both Assertion and Reason are false.

Question 27: easy

A small iron needle placed slowly on the surface of water floats due to

1. Surface tension
2. Viscosity
3. Gravity
4. Both (2) & (3)
View Answer

The needle floats on the water surface because of surface tension, which creates a stretched membrane-like behavior on the surface of the water.

Question 28: easy

Eight drops of equal radii are falling through air with a steady velocity of \(3\text{ cm/s}\). If the eight drops combine to form a single drop, then its steady velocity will be

1. \(3\text{ cm/s}\)
2. \(12\text{ cm/s}\)
3. \(6\text{ cm/s}\)
4. \(24\text{ cm/s}\)
View Answer

Terminal velocity \(v \propto r^2\). Since volume remains constant, \(\frac{4}{3}\pi R^3 = 8 \times \frac{4}{3}\pi r^3 \implies R = 2r\). Thus, the new terminal velocity is \(v' = \left(\frac{R}{r}\right)^2 v = 2^2 \times 3 = 12\text{ cm/s}\).

Question 29: 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 30: 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 $Z_0 = \frac{4 \times 2.5 \times 10^{-2}}{10^{-3} \times 10^3 \times 10} = 10^{-2} \text{ m} = 1 \text{ cm}$.