Effects of Cohesion and Adhesion

Here are the effects of cohesion and adhesion :

• Capillary Action: Cohesion keeps water molecules together inside a tube. Adhesion pulls the water up against gravity, along the tube walls.
• Meniscus Formation: Adhesion pulls liquid up the container sides, forming a concave meniscus. Strong cohesion in mercury, however, creates a convex meniscus.
• Water Transport in Plants: Cohesion helps transport water up plant xylem. Adhesion helps water molecules stick to xylem walls, aiding this upward movement.
• Surface Tension: Cohesion causes water to form droplets on surfaces like leaves. Adhesion spreads these droplets, affecting how they interact with the surface.
• Paint Application: Adhesion allows paint to stick on walls and ceilings. Cohesion keeps the paint together, forming a smooth coat.
• Medical Applications: Adhesion helps bandages stick to skin. Cohesion keeps the adhesive components bonded, ensuring the bandage stays secure.

Also, Check

• Capillary Action
• Fluid Friction
• How to Measure Surface Tension

Adhesion and cohesion tell us how substances interact at the molecular level. Adhesion refers to the attractive force between molecules of different substances. It allows substances to cling to different materials while cohesion is the attractive force between molecules of the same substance. It keeps molecules together within the substance. In this article, we will learn the differences between Adhesion And Cohesion in detail.