Water forms droplets because of two properties of water: cohesion and adhesion.
- Cohesion is the attraction between water molecules. This attraction is caused by the fact that water molecules are polar, which means that they have a positive end and a negative end. The positive end of one water molecule is attracted to the negative end of another water molecule.
- Adhesion is the attraction between water molecules and other surfaces. This attraction is caused by the fact that water molecules are also attracted to the positive and negative charges of other surfaces.
When water is in a liquid state, the cohesive forces between the water molecules are strong enough to keep the molecules together. However, when water is in a gaseous state, the cohesive forces are not strong enough to keep the molecules together, and the water molecules fly apart.
When water droplets form, the cohesive forces between the water molecules are strong enough to overcome the adhesive forces between the water molecules and the surface they are on. This causes the water molecules to form a sphere, with the smallest possible surface area. The smaller the surface area, the stronger the cohesive forces between the water molecules.
The shape of a water droplet is also affected by gravity. Gravity pulls the water molecules down, but the cohesive forces between the water molecules keep them from falling apart. This causes the water droplets to be spherical, with the smallest possible surface area.
The size of a water droplet is also affected by the surface tension of the water. Surface tension is the force that acts on the surface of a liquid, and it causes the surface of the liquid to behave like a stretched membrane. The surface tension of water is very high, which is why water droplets can form on very small surfaces, such as a spider’s web.
The surface tension of water also affects the shape of a water droplet. The higher the surface tension, the rounder the water droplet will be. This is because the surface tension pulls the water molecules together, creating a stronger cohesive force.