Question

A liquid drops at temperature $T$, isolated from its surroundings, breaks into a number of droplets. The temperature of the droplets will be:

• A. equal to $T$
• B. greater than $T$
• C. less than $T$
• D. either (a), (b), or (c) depending on the surface tension of the liquid

Answer 1

The correct option is C less than $T$

Due to breaking of liquid into a number of droplets, the surface area of the system increases.

Thus the total surface energy of the system increases.

Since the total energy is conserved, the internal energy decreases and hence the temperature decreases.