answersLogoWhite

0

Water beads up on a smooth surface due to surface tension, which is caused by the cohesive forces between water molecules. This surface tension minimizes the contact area between water and the surface, causing the water to form beads to reduce the energy required to maintain the surface tension.

User Avatar

AnswerBot

1y ago

What else can I help you with?

Continue Learning about Physics

Why does water form spherical drops on some surfaces?

Water forms spherical drops on hydrophobic surfaces because the molecules have a tendency to minimize contact with the surface due to surface tension. This shape reduces the surface area in contact with the surface, allowing the water droplet to bead up into a more stable and energetically favorable shape.


Why does wet paint bead up on some shiny smooth surfaces and spread evenly over other surfaces?

Wet paint beads up on some shiny, smooth surfaces due to surface tension, where the paint molecules are more attracted to each other than to the surface. On other surfaces, the paint spreads evenly due to good wetting properties, where the paint molecules form strong bonds with the surface, allowing it to flow and cover the surface uniformly.


Why you cannot write on a sheet of paper with an oily surface?

The oily surface repels water-based inks, causing the ink to bead up and not adhere to the paper. This results in smudging and an inability to write smoothly or legibly on the paper.


Why can we see a reflection in the water when it is still but not when it is disturbed?

When water is still, its surface is smooth and acts like a mirror, reflecting the surroundings. When water is disturbed, ripples and waves form, breaking up the smooth surface and preventing a clear reflection. The disturbance causes the light to scatter in different directions, making it harder for an image to form on the surface.


What is Ability to repel water?

The ability to repel water is known as hydrophobicity. It is a property of certain materials that causes them to repel water molecules, causing water to bead up and roll off the surface rather than soaking in. This property is often utilized in coatings, fabrics, and other products to make them water-resistant.

Related Questions

Why does water bead up on a waxed car but gasoline does not?

Most waxes are petroleum based, just like gasoline. Therefore, they have similar properties and mix, whereas water has significantly different properties, causing it to 'bead up' and form droplets on the surface.


What property of water makes it bead up on waxy surface?

The form of water you are seeing is water vapor turning to mist and then collecting on leaves.


Is copper surface hydrophobic?

No, copper surfaces are typically hydrophilic, meaning they have an affinity for water and will readily allow water to spread across the surface rather than bead up.


Does water temperature affect surface tension on a penny?

Yes, water temperature can affect surface tension on a penny. As water temperature increases, surface tension generally decreases. This means that with higher water temperature, the water is less likely to bead up and more likely to spread out on the penny, reducing the surface tension.


Does the scuba Neoprene cell phone case bead up with material after a short period of ware?

Neoprene cases are known to retain their smooth surface even after months of use. Beading should not be an issue.


Would mercury bead up more on a waxed or unwaxed car?

Short Answer:One expects mercury, like water, to bead more on a waxed surface and less on a painted or metallic surface.Explanation:The phenomena of beading of any liquid depends on the density of the liquid and the interfacial surface tension between the liquid and the surface with which it is in contact.Mercury has a large surface tension normally. The mercury-air interface has a surface tension of about 482 dynes/cm compared to water-air which is about 72 dynes/cm. Both of these are larger than most other liquids. The water-mercury interface has a surface tension of 415 dynes/cm.Both water and mercury decrease surface tension when in contact with a polar medium such as an alcohol.Wax is very non-polar while paint is presumably slightly polar. Of course, metal would be more polar. (Perhaps polarizable is a better term.) One expects mercury, like water, to bead more on a waxed surface and less on a painted or metallic surface.


How do hydrophobic water-repelling surfaces prevent water from adhering to them?

Hydrophobic surfaces have a low affinity for water molecules, causing water to bead up and roll off the surface instead of sticking to it. This is due to the surface's molecular structure, which repels water molecules and prevents them from adhering.


Why does water form spherical drops on some surfaces?

Water forms spherical drops on hydrophobic surfaces because the molecules have a tendency to minimize contact with the surface due to surface tension. This shape reduces the surface area in contact with the surface, allowing the water droplet to bead up into a more stable and energetically favorable shape.


Why does wet paint bead up on some shiny smooth surfaces and spread evenly over other surfaces?

Wet paint beads up on some shiny, smooth surfaces due to surface tension, where the paint molecules are more attracted to each other than to the surface. On other surfaces, the paint spreads evenly due to good wetting properties, where the paint molecules form strong bonds with the surface, allowing it to flow and cover the surface uniformly.


Why does water bubble up on a penny?

Water molecules have a high surface tension, causing them to bead up on the surface of a penny due to its hydrophobic nature. As more water is added, the surface tension is overcome, leading to the formation of bubbles on the penny as the water tries to minimize its contact area with the metal.


Why does water bead up on a waxed car but gasoline spreads out?

A waxed car is not hydrophilic, it is not wetted with water. A drop of water falling on such a surface does not speak out wetting the surface. Instead the surface tension of the water drop pulls it into a spherical shape that sits on top of the surface until it either slides off or evaporates.


Why you cannot write on a sheet of paper with an oily surface?

The oily surface repels water-based inks, causing the ink to bead up and not adhere to the paper. This results in smudging and an inability to write smoothly or legibly on the paper.