NVAEasyJEE 2026Surface Tension & Capillarity

JEE Physics 2026 Question with Solution

A soap bubble of surface tension 0.04N/m0.04\,N/m is blown to a diameter of 7cm7\,cm. If (15000x)μJ\left(15000 - x\right)\,\mu J of work is done in blowing it further to make its diameter 14cm14\,cm (π=22/7)\left(\pi = 22/7\right), then the value of xx is ____.

Answer

Correct answer:11304

Step-by-step solution

Standard Method

Given: Surface tension of the soap bubble is T=0.04N/mT = 0.04\,\text{N/m}. Initial diameter is 7cm7\,\text{cm} and final diameter is 14cm14\,\text{cm}. The work done is given as (15000x)μJ\left(15000 - x\right)\,\mu \text{J}.

Find: The value of xx.

A soap bubble has two surfaces, so surface energy is

E=2×T×4πr2=8πTr2E = 2 \times T \times 4\pi r^2 = 8\pi T r^2

Initial radius:

r1=3.5cm=0.035mr_1 = 3.5\,\text{cm} = 0.035\,\text{m}

Final radius:

r2=7cm=0.07mr_2 = 7\,\text{cm} = 0.07\,\text{m}

Work done in expansion equals increase in surface energy:

W=8πT(r22r12)W = 8\pi T \left(r_2^2 - r_1^2\right)

Substituting values:

W=8×227×0.04(0.0720.0352)W = 8 \times \frac{22}{7} \times 0.04 \left(0.07^2 - 0.035^2\right) W=0.006304J=6304μJW = 0.006304\,\text{J} = 6304\,\mu\text{J}

Now compare with the given expression:

15000x=630415000 - x = 6304

So,

x=11304x = 11304

Therefore, the value of xx is 1130411304.

Using Surface Energy Change

Given: A soap bubble has surface tension 0.04N/m0.04\,\text{N/m} and its diameter increases from 7cm7\,\text{cm} to 14cm14\,\text{cm}.

Find: The numerical value of xx.

The hint says that a soap bubble has two surfaces. Therefore, the total surface area contributing to energy is twice the outer spherical area. Hence,

E=8πTr2E = 8\pi T r^2

For the initial state,

r1=72cm=3.5cm=0.035mr_1 = \frac{7}{2}\,\text{cm} = 3.5\,\text{cm} = 0.035\,\text{m}

For the final state,

r2=142cm=7cm=0.07mr_2 = \frac{14}{2}\,\text{cm} = 7\,\text{cm} = 0.07\,\text{m}

Increase in surface energy is

ΔE=8πT(r22r12)\Delta E = 8\pi T \left(r_2^2 - r_1^2\right)

Now,

r22=0.072=0.0049r_2^2 = 0.07^2 = 0.0049 r12=0.0352=0.001225r_1^2 = 0.035^2 = 0.001225

So,

r22r12=0.00490.001225=0.003675r_2^2 - r_1^2 = 0.0049 - 0.001225 = 0.003675

Thus,

W=8×227×0.04×0.003675W = 8 \times \frac{22}{7} \times 0.04 \times 0.003675 W=0.006304JW = 0.006304\,\text{J}

Convert into microjoule:

0.006304J=6304μJ0.006304\,\text{J} = 6304\,\mu\text{J}

Given,

15000x=630415000 - x = 6304

Hence,

x=150006304=11304x = 15000 - 6304 = 11304

Therefore, the required answer is 1130411304.

Common mistakes

  • Using the surface energy formula for a single liquid surface instead of a soap bubble. This is wrong because a soap bubble has two surfaces. Use E=8πTr2E = 8\pi T r^2, not 4πTr24\pi T r^2.

  • Taking diameter directly in place of radius. This is wrong because the formula depends on rr. First convert diameters 7cm7\,\text{cm} and 14cm14\,\text{cm} into radii 3.5cm3.5\,\text{cm} and 7cm7\,\text{cm}.

  • Forgetting to convert centimetres into metres before substituting into SI units. This gives the wrong work in joules. Convert 0.035m0.035\,\text{m} and 0.07m0.07\,\text{m} before calculation.

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