page_title: Goniometer
section_title: Contact angle goniometer
hierarchical_section_title: Goniometer / Applications / Surface science / Contact angle goniometer
caption_attribution_description: English: Image of a ramé-hart Contact Angle Goniometer / Tensiometer
context_page_description: A goniometer is an instrument that either measures an angle or allows an object to be rotated to a precise angular position. The term goniometry derives from two Greek words, gōnia, meaning angle, and metron, meaning measure.
  The first known description of a goniometer, based on the astrolabe, was by Gemma Frisius in 1538.
context_section_description: In surface science, an instrument called a contact angle goniometer or tensiometer measures the static contact angle, advancing and receding contact angles, and sometimes surface tension. The first contact angle goniometer was designed by Dr. William Zisman of the United States Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C. and manufactured by ramé-hart (now ramé-hart instrument company), New Jersey, USA. The original manual contact angle goniometer used an eyepiece with microscope. Today's contact angle goniometer uses a camera and software to capture and analyze the drop shape, and is better suited for dynamic and advanced studies.
caption: Surface scientists use a contact angle goniometer to measure contact angle, surface energy and surface tension.
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