Skip to main content
Chapter 8 of 30
Practice Quiz

Surface Tension

ICSE · Class 11 · Physics

Practice quiz for Surface Tension — ICSE Class 11 Physics. MCQs and questions with answers to test your preparation.

44 questions28 flashcards5 concepts

Interactive on Super Tutor

Studying Surface Tension? Get the full interactive chapter.

Quizzes, flashcards, AI doubt-solver and a step-by-step study plan — built for practice quiz and more.

1,000+ Class 11 students started this chapter today

Quick Quiz: Surface Tension

0/4

Tap an answer to check it instantly. No sign-up needed for these 4.

1

A soap bubble of radius R is formed from a soap solution of surface tension T. What is the excess pressure inside the soap bubble?

2

Water rises to a height of 4.0 cm in a capillary tube of radius 0.02 cm. If the angle of contact is 0° and density of water is 1000 kg/m³, what is the surface tension of water? (g = 10 m/s²)

3

Which of the following correctly explains why mercury does NOT wet glass?

4

A liquid drop of radius R has surface tension T. If the radius of the drop is doubled to 2R (keeping surface tension constant), the excess pressure inside the drop becomes:

44 Questions·
multiple choice

Sample Questions

1multiple choice
1 marks

A capillary tube of radius r is dipped in water at an angle of contact θ. The water rises to a height h. If the tube is now inclined at an angle α to the vertical, the vertical height of water in the tube is:

Show answer

h (unchanged)

Step 1: The capillary rise formula gives the VERTICAL height h = 2T cos θ / (rρg). Step 2: This height h depends only on T, θ, r, ρ, and g — none of which change when the tube is tilted. Step 3: When inclined, the vertical height of water remains h (same as before). Step 4: However, the LENGTH of liquid column along the inclined tube increases to h/cos α. Step 5: So the vertical height stays h, but the length of the liquid in the tube becomes longer. A common mistake is confusing the length of liquid in the tube with the vertical height.

2multiple choice
1 marks

The work done in increasing the surface area of a soap film by 20 cm² is 4 × 10⁻⁴ J. What is the surface tension of the soap solution?

Show answer

0.01 N/m

Step 1: Recall that surface tension T = Work done / Increase in area. Step 2: A soap film has TWO surfaces, so total increase in area = 2 × 20 cm² = 40 cm² = 40 × 10⁻⁴ m². Step 3: Given work done W = 4 × 10⁻⁴ J. Step 4: Surface tension T = W / ΔA = (4 × 10⁻⁴) / (40 × 10⁻⁴) = 4/40 = 0.1... Wait — recalculate: ΔA = 40 × 10⁻⁴ m²; T = 4 × 10⁻⁴ / 40 × 10⁻⁴ = 0.1 N/m. Actually: 20 cm² = 20 × 10⁻⁴ m²; two surfaces → 40 × 10⁻⁴ m²; T = 4 × 10⁻⁴ / 40 × 10⁻⁴ = 0.1... Correction: T = 4×10⁻⁴ / (2 × 20×10⁻⁴) = 4×10⁻⁴ / 40×10⁻⁴ = 0.1 N/m. Let us re-verify the question: with W = 4×10⁻⁴ J and ΔA_total = 40×10⁻

3multiple choice
1 marks

Two soap bubbles of radii r₁ = 2 cm and r₂ = 4 cm are formed. The ratio of excess pressure inside the smaller bubble to that inside the larger bubble is:

Show answer

2:1

Step 1: For a soap bubble, excess pressure p = 4T/R. Step 2: Excess pressure is inversely proportional to radius (p ∝ 1/R). Step 3: For the smaller bubble: p₁ = 4T/r₁ = 4T/0.02. Step 4: For the larger bubble: p₂ = 4T/r₂ = 4T/0.04. Step 5: Ratio p₁/p₂ = r₂/r₁ = 4/2 = 2:1. So the smaller bubble has higher excess pressure — this is why when two soap bubbles are connected, air flows from the smaller bubble to the larger bubble, making the smaller one shrink and the larger one grow.

4multiple choice
1 marks

The angle of contact for water and clean glass is approximately 0°, while for mercury and glass it is 135°. What does this imply about the shape of the meniscus in a glass capillary for water and mercury respectively?

Show answer

Concave for water, convex for mercury

Step 1: The shape of the meniscus depends on the angle of contact θ. Step 2: For water-glass: adhesive force (water-glass) > cohesive force (water-water), so θ ≈ 0° (acute). The resultant force on surface molecules points outward (away from water), making the meniscus concave (curved upward). Step 3: A concave meniscus causes capillary RISE in water. Step 4: For mercury-glass: cohesive force (mercury-mercury) > adhesive force (mercury-glass), so θ = 135° (obtuse). The resultant force points inward, making the meniscus convex (curved downward). Step 5: A convex meniscus causes capillary DEPRESS

+40 more questions available

Practice All

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the important topics in Surface Tension for ICSE Class 11 Physics?
Key topics in Surface Tension include Flowchart showing conditions for capillary rise and depression, Flowchart showing how molecular imbalance at the liquid surface creates surface tension, Flowchart showing step-by-step derivation of capillary rise formula. These are the concepts ICSE Class 11 examiners draw on most — study them first, then practise related questions.
How to score full marks in Surface Tension — ICSE Class 11 Physics?
Understand the core concepts first, then work through the 44 practice questions available for this chapter. Revise formulas and definitions regularly, and use flashcards for quick recall before the exam.

Sources & Official References

Content is aligned to the official syllabus. Refer to the board website for the latest curriculum.

For serious students

Get the full Surface Tension chapter — for free.

Quizzes, flashcards, AI doubt-solver and a step-by-step study plan for ICSE Class 11 Physics.