Problem 2.1: What is the difference between adhesion and

From Chapter 2 Problem Set. Level 1: Conceptual Mastery.

Question

What is the difference between adhesion and cohesion? Why does water need both for effective heat transfer?

Answer

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Adhesion is water’s attraction to other surfaces; cohesion is water’s attraction to itself. Adhesion keeps water in contact with heat exchange surfaces (enabling conduction). Cohesion holds the bulk fluid together so it moves as a connected whole (enabling convection). Without both, heat transfer stalls.