Chapter 12: Q12.56P (page 495)
Before the phenomenon of surface tension was understood, physicists described the surface of the water as being covered with a 鈥渟kin.鈥 What causes this skin-like phenomenon?
Short Answer
The 鈥渟kin鈥 term which was being used by a physicist for the surface of the water is due to the unbalanced forces of attraction which are present on the surface than in the bulk of water.