Very small drops of liquid free from external forces like gravity or spherical in shape
Answers
Answer:
In the absence of external forcces liquid tries to aquire minimum surface tension.
For same volume sphere has least S.A.
Answer:
A spherical shape has the minimum surface area-to-volume ratio of all geometric forms. If any external force distorts the sphere, molecules must be brought from the interior to the surface in order to provide for the increased surface area. This process requires work to be done in order to raise the potential energy of a molecule. The change in free surface energy is equal to the net work done to alter the surface area of the liquid. However, spontaneous processes are associated with a decrease in free energy. Hence, in the absence of external forces, a liquid drop will spontaneously assume a spherical shape in order to minimize its exposed surface area and there by its free surface energy.
[Note: The spontaneous coalescence of two similar liquid droplets into one large drop when brought into contact is a dramatic demonstration of the decrease in free surface energy brought about by the decrease in total surface area by the formation of a single larger drop.]