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. The surface tension acts to hold the surface intact, so instead of just the edges moving upward, the whole liquid surface is dragged upward. Back Capillary Action Capillary action occurs when the adhesion to the walls is stronger than the cohesive forces between the liquid molecules.