Surface tension: Difference between revisions
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
mNo edit summary |
|||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
The '''surface tension''', | The '''surface tension''', | ||
<math> \gamma </math>, is a measure of the work required to create a surface. | <math> \gamma </math>, is a measure of the work required to create a surface. | ||
== Thermodynamics == | |||
In the [[Canonical ensemble]]: two phases; | In the [[Canonical ensemble]]: two phases; | ||
Revision as of 11:05, 1 August 2007
The surface tension, , is a measure of the work required to create a surface.
Thermodynamics
In the Canonical ensemble: two phases;
- ;
where
- is the number of particles
- is the volume
- is the temperature
- is the surface area
- is the Helmholtz energy function
Computer Simulation
A review on different techniques to compute surface (interface) tension can be found in the paper by Gloor et al.
Liquid-Vapour Interfaces of one component systems
- Binder procedure
For given conditions of volume and temperature, the Helmholtz energy function is computed as a function of the number of molecules:
The calculation is usually carried out using Monte Carlo simulation
If liquid-vapour equilibrium occurs, the plot of the chemical potential, , as a function of shows a loop.
Using basic thermodynamic procedures (Maxwell construction) it is possible to compute the densities of the two phases;
- Explicit interface