Physics › Section H · Fluids › Topic H.4
Surface tension, capillarity, and pressures in the body
Why can an insect stand on a pond, why does water creep up a thin tube, and what does a blood pressure of 120/80 actually mean? This topic follows the forces between molecules at a liquid's surface, then uses everything you know about pressure to look inside the human body.
In this topic
- Cohesion and adhesion
- Surface tension
- Pressure inside drops and bubbles
- Worked example: a fog droplet and a soap bubble
- Contact angle and capillary action
- Worked example: water in a fine tube
- Surface tension in the lungs
- Pressures in the body
- Worked example: blood pressure at the head and feet
- Common mistakes to avoid
- Key takeaways
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