Laplace Equation Liquid Curvature and Pressure

The surface tension, y, and the mechanical equilibrium at interfaces have been described in the literature in detail (Adamson and Gast, 1997 Chattoraj and Birdi, 1984 Birdi, 1989, 2002, 2008). The surface has been considered as a hypothetical stretched membrane, which is termed as the surface tension. In a real system undergoing an infinitesimal process, it can be written that 

FIGURE 2.3 Surface of water inside a large beaker and in a narrow tubing. 

The fundamental property of liquid surfaces is that they tend to contract to the smallest possible area. This property is observed in the spherical form of small drops of liquid, in the tension exerted by soap films as they tend to become less extended, and in many other properties of liquid surfaces. In the absence of gravity effects, these curved surfaces are described by the Laplace equation, which relates the mechanical forces as (Adamson and Gast, 1997 Chattoraj and Birdi, 1984 Birdi, 1997)  

It will be shown here that, due to the presence of surface tension in liquids, a pressure difference exists across the curved interfaces of liquids (such as drops or bubbles). This capillary force will be analyzed later. 

The pressure applied produces work on the system, and the creation of the bubble leads to the creation of a surface area increase in the fluid. The Laplace equation relates the pressure difference across any curved fluid surface to the curvature, 1/radius and its surface tension y. In those cases where nonspherical curvatures are present, the more universal equation is obtained  

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Capillary Forces Laplace Equation (Liquid Curvature AND Pressure) (Mechanical Definition)... 

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