UnitConSurface Tension
Surface tension arises from cohesive forces at a liquid's surface. It explains why droplets form, why liquids wet surfaces differently, and why some insects can stand on water. This converter helps compare SI and CGS surface-tension units. It is useful in chemistry, coatings, materials science, and fluid research.
Common conversions
| From | To |
|---|---|
| 72 Millinewton per Meter | 0.072 Newton per Meter |
| 1 Newton per Meter | 1,000 Dyne per Centimeter |
| 50 Millinewton per Meter | 0.05 Newton per Meter |
| 1 Dyne per Centimeter | 1 Millinewton per Meter |
| 486 Millinewton per Meter | 0.486 Newton per Meter |
Frequently asked questions
Surface tension is the energy associated with a liquid surface or the force acting along that surface per unit length. It comes from molecular attraction within the liquid.
Water has relatively high surface tension, which helps support very light insects if their legs spread the load well. It is a classic demonstration of surface effects in fluids.
Mercury is a common high-surface-tension reference liquid. It beads strongly because its molecules attract each other very strongly.
Water is often cited around 72 mN/m near room temperature. The exact value depends on temperature and purity.