Adhesion Concepts

Adhesion refers to the attractive force between different types of surfaces or materials, causing them to stick together. For example, when water climbs up a narrow tube (capillary action) or paint spreads evenly on a wall, adhesion is at work. It differs from cohesion, which is the attraction between like molecules within a substance. Adhesion depends on the nature of the surfaces involved and can be influenced by factors like surface roughness, cleanliness, and molecular properties. It plays a crucial role in many everyday phenomena and technical applications, such as gluing, painting, and fluid movement in small channels.