A kinetic approach to the calculation of surface tension of a spherical drop

In literature, surface tension has been investigated mainly from a Thermodynamics standpoint, more rarely with kinetic methods. In the present work, surface tension of drops is studied in the framework of kinetic theory, starting from the Sutherland approximation to Van Der Waals interaction between molecules. Surface tension is calculated as a function of drop radius: it is found that it approaches swiftly an asymptotic value, for radii of several times the distance of minimum approach D of the Sutherland potential. This theoretical asymptotic value is compared to experimental values of surface tension in plane surfaces of a few liquids, and is found in reasonable agreement. Copyright EDP Sciences/Società Italiana di Fisica/Springer-Verlag 2006