Multiple choice

For a liquid surface:

  1. Surface stress = specific surface energy

  2. Surface stress > Specific surface energy

  3. Surface stress < specific surface energy

  4. There is no relation between surface stress and surface energy
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

This option is correct because for liquids there is no strain tensor and surface stress is equal to specific surface energy. Indeed, if one tries to increase the surface area of a liquid, the bulk atoms will move to the surface to keep the density constant.

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