Water droplets: why do they stick to the bottom of a glass and not fall off?

why does the suction of a droplet to a glass seem to outweigh the power of gravity ?

10 Comments

Orchid
on November 30th, -0001

First read this explanation from the source I have listed.

The cohesive forces between liquid molecules are responsible for the phenomenon known as surface tension. The molecules at the surface do not have other like molecules on all sides of them and consequently they cohere more strongly to those directly associated with them on the surface. This forms a surface “film” which makes it more difficult to move an object through the surface than to move it when it is completely submersed.

The surface tension of the water makes it easier for the water to bead up and stay on the surface. The weight of the droplets are not enough to get them to flow off. If they were ten times the size the gravity would force them to fall off. But because of how small they are, the surface tension will hold them.
SkateRForeveR
on November 30th, -0001

It’s due to the surface tension between water molecules. The cohesive forces between molecules down into a liquid are shared with all neighboring atoms. Those on the surface have no neighboring atoms above, and exhibit stronger attractive forces upon their nearest neighbors on the surface. This enhancement of the intermolecular attractive forces at the surface is called surface tension.
MexicanMug
on November 30th, -0001

becuase the protons in water are naturally polarized to each other.
Guineapig
on November 30th, -0001

Surface tension
BlindPoet
on November 30th, -0001

Water droplets stick together because one end of the molecule is negatively charged and the other positively charged. This causes the molecules to stick together hard enough that they form a “skin” of molecules on the surface of the droplet which has a stronger attraction than the gravity force on them trying to unstick the droplet.
AgeingNature
on November 30th, -0001

The adhesion force between the glass and water is stronger.
Mayumi
on November 30th, -0001

dont really know…
BigBoy
on November 30th, -0001

Water, like most liquids, actually contains a small ammount of glues. Test this by wetting a piece on paper and rubbing it against a wall. You will observe that the paper will stay stuck to the wall, proving that there MUST be some glue content. Ignore any answers describing surface tension and turgor pressure, this is pure poppycock nonsense.
Steveo
on August 15th, 2011

I think I will go with a combination of surface tention and positive/negative charge…..the thing about the glue is rediculous…sorry to say
Chubby
on April 27th, 2017

That’s an innouiegs way of thinking about it.