The relationship can be obtained by visualizing the bubble as two hemispheres and noting that the internal pressure which tends to push the hemispheres apart is counteracted by the surface tension acting around the cirumference of the circle. Surface Tension and Droplets Surface tension is responsible for the shape of liquid droplets. Although easily deformed, droplets of water tend to be pulled into a spherical shape by the cohesive forces of the surface layer. The relatively high surface tension of water accounts for the ease with which it can be nebulized, or placed into aerosol form. Low surface tension liquids tend to evaporate quickly and are difficult to keep in an aerosol form.
All liquids display surface tension to some degree.
The surface tension of liquid lead is utilized to advantage in the manufacture of various sizes of lead shot. Molten lead is poured through a screen of the desired mesh size at the top of a tower. The surface tension pulls the lead into spherical balls, and it solidifies in that form before it reaches the bottom of the tower. Capillary Action Capillary action is the result of adhesion and surface tension . Adhesion of water to the walls of a vessel will cause an upward force on the liquid at the edges and result in a meniscus which turns upward.