When you accidentally overfill a water glass, the water takes on a dome-like or convex shape, but a half-filled water glass takes on a concave shape, in which the water is higher at the sides of the glass. This is because:

Within the glass, adhesive forces dominate, and on top of the glass, cohesive forces dominate.

Within the glass, water tries to maximize its surface area, and on top of the glass, water tries to minimize its surface area.

Water's surface tension is greater inside the glass than on top of the glass.

Adhesive forces between water and the glass get weaker with height.

Question

Paola Wilkinson

Chemistry

16 January, 21:24

When you accidentally overfill a water glass, the water takes on a dome-like or convex shape, but a half-filled water glass takes on a concave shape, in which the water is higher at the sides of the glass. This is because:

Within the glass, adhesive forces dominate, and on top of the glass, cohesive forces dominate.

Within the glass, water tries to maximize its surface area, and on top of the glass, water tries to minimize its surface area.

Water's surface tension is greater inside the glass than on top of the glass.

Adhesive forces between water and the glass get weaker with height.

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Answers (1)

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Rubi Buck · Answer 1

The water is higher at the sides of the glass. This is because w ithin the glass, adhesive forces dominate, and on top of the glass, cohesive forces dominate.