Defining Surface Tension
Surface tension is the tendency of liquid surfaces to shrink into the minimum surface area possible. It is a property that results from the cohesive forces between liquid molecules. At the surface, molecules are pulled inwards by other molecules, creating a tension that acts like a thin, stretched membrane.
Example of Surface Tension
A common example of surface tension is how insects like water striders can walk on water. Their weight is distributed in a way that it is not enough to break the cohesive forces holding the water molecules together. Another example is when you carefully place a paperclip on the surface of water and it floats.