Applications of surface tension

Surface tension has a wide range of practical applications and effects. Pouring a small amount of oil onto standing water breaks the water's elastic surface film by lowering its surface tension there; this is deliberately exploited to control mosquito breeding, since mosquito eggs laid on the (now weakened) surface sink and drown rather than hatching. Chemical and industrial engineers must finely control the surface tension of a liquid so that it breaks up into droplets of a precisely designed size that adhere to a target surface without smearing -- this control is essential to desktop (inkjet) printing and to spray-painting automobiles and decorative items. Detergents lower the surface tension of hot water, which lets the water penetrate fabric fibres and lift dirt and grease particles away more effectively during washing. And a fabric can be made waterproof by treating it with a suitable water …