Proceedings of the Physical Society Section A · 1950 · 1.1K citations · 12 references
Materials ScienceSurface Tension γEngineeringMechanicsContact MechanicMechanical EngineeringSurface TensionSurface EnergyUnit LengthSolid MechanicsMechanics Of Materials
A distinction is made between the surface Helmholtz free energy F, and the surface tension γ. The surface energy is the work necessary to form unit area of surface by a process of division: the surface tension is the tangential stress (force per unit length) in the surface layer; this stress must be balanced either by external forces or by volume stresses in the body.
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