the potential energy of a molecule on the surface of liquid compared to that of a molecule inside the liquid is?
Dear Student,
Higher. Consider a liquid with some initial surface area. To increase the surface area of the liquid, some molecules of the liquid have to be moved from bulk to surface of liquid. For this we need to do some work against the cohesive force between the particles. This work is stored in the molecule in the form of potential energy. Therefore the molecules on the surface of liquid has more potential energy than the molecules in the bulk.
Regards
Higher. Consider a liquid with some initial surface area. To increase the surface area of the liquid, some molecules of the liquid have to be moved from bulk to surface of liquid. For this we need to do some work against the cohesive force between the particles. This work is stored in the molecule in the form of potential energy. Therefore the molecules on the surface of liquid has more potential energy than the molecules in the bulk.
Regards