Question

Is surface tension due to cohesive or adhesive forces, or both?

Short answer

The surface tension is due to cohesive force.

Step-by-step solution

Conceptual Introduction

Fluid statics, often known as hydrostatics, is a branch of fluid mechanics that investigates the state of balance of a floating and submerged body, as well as the pressure in a fluid, or imposed by a fluid, on an immersed body.

Define the surface tension 

The surface of a liquid contracts to the lowest feasible surface area due to cohesive forces between molecules.The surface tension is the common term for these phenomena. The cohesive forcespull moleculeson the surface inward, lowering the surface area. Because they have neighbors on all sides, molecules inside the liquid feel zero net force.

The surface tension is related to the cohesive force strength, which varies depending on the kind of liquid. Surface tension is defined as the force F exerted by a stretched liquid membrane per unit length L

$\mathit{\gamma }\mathbf{=}\frac{\mathbf{F}}{\mathbf{L}}$

The size of this force is determined by the liquid's surface tension and may be precisely measured.Liquids create bubbles and droplets as a result of surface tension.

Define the cohesive forces

The cohesive forces are attractive forces between molecules of the same sort.

The adhesive forces are the attractive forces that exist between molecules of various sorts.

The surface of aliquid contracts to the lowest feasible surface area due to cohesive forces between molecules. Surface tension is the common term for these phenomena.

Capillary actionrefers to a fluid's tendency to rise or fall in a thin tube, or capillary tube, according to the relative strength of cohesive and adhesive forces.

Therefore, the surface tension is because of the cohesive force.