What is the difference between pressure and tension?
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Pressure is Force per unit Area, while surface tension is Force per unit Length. Pressure represents a force applied perpendicular to the surface, distributed over the surface.
Surface tension is less familiar. It represents a force parallel to the surface. Imagine the surface is the surface of a stretched balloon, and cut a small slit in it. The edge of the slit must be *pulled* sideways to keep it from moving, and this force becomes greater as you make the slit longer. So it is force per unit length of the slit.
Surface tension is less familiar. It represents a force parallel to the surface. Imagine the surface is the surface of a stretched balloon, and cut a small slit in it. The edge of the slit must be *pulled* sideways to keep it from moving, and this force becomes greater as you make the slit longer. So it is force per unit length of the slit.
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