CBSE Class 10 Answered

Hi Harisankar, In simple terms, it is the property of the liquid by virtue of which, it behaves like an elastic stretched membrane with a tendency to contract, so as to occupy minimum surface area. Surface tension of a liquid can be measured as the force per unit length on an imaginary line drawn on the liquid surface, which acts perpendicular to the line on its either side at every point and tangentially to the liquid surface. The SI unit of surface tension is N/m. The CGS unit is dyne/cm.