Searle's Surface Tension Balance
Product Code : LSK-EAST-11177
Searle's Surface Tension Balance (SKU LSK-EAST-11177) is a torsion-type balance that measures the surface tension of a soap film or of any transparent liquid from the deflection of a beam carried by a stretched wire. Fitted on a tripod stand with a levelling screw, it is used in B.Sc. physics and engineering physics practicals on surface phenomena. Science Lab Supplies fabricates the balance at its works in Saha, Ambala, India (Plot 448, HSIIDC Industrial Area) and dispatches it direct to colleges, tender contractors and distributors.
Specifications
The table below covers every stated point of the Searle's balance. Briefly, a light beam is carried on a stretched wire so that the pull of a film or liquid surface twists it; the resulting deflection is read off, and the whole assembly stands on a tripod with a levelling screw.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| SKU | LSK-EAST-11177 |
| Principle | Deflection of a beam carried by a stretched wire |
| Samples | Soap film or any transparent liquid |
| Mounting | Tripod stand |
| Levelling | Levelling screw |
| Manufacturer | Science Lab Supplies, Saha, Ambala, Haryana |
| Country of origin | India |
Applications and Experiments for Searle's Surface Tension Balance
Searle's balance turns the small pull of a liquid surface into a visible twist of a wire, so students can calculate surface tension directly from a force measurement. It is a standard undergraduate practical for soap solutions and clear liquids in physics and engineering physics laboratories.
- B.Sc. physics: surface tension of a soap solution from the force on a film, after first seeing film behaviour with the wire frames of the Surface-Tension Demonstration Set.
- Surface tension of water or other transparent liquids held in a Borosilicate Beaker beneath the beam.
- Studying how surface tension changes with temperature, measured with a Glass Thermometer.
- Engineering physics: comparing a force-based method with capillary-rise results.
Standard Scope of Supply
The Searle's Surface Tension Balance is supplied as a single unit: the beam on its stretched wire, fitted on the tripod stand with levelling screw, as described above. Soap solution, liquid vessels and thermometers are separate items, and any optional accessories are listed individually on the quotation.
Packing, MOQ and Lead Time
Request a quotation for one balance for a demonstration or for a set covering each student group. The reply from Science Lab Supplies details packing, delivery time and price for that exact quantity, and beakers or thermometers needed for the practical can be added to the same quotation.
Science Lab Supplies holds an Importer-Exporter Code and is able to ship to buyers in Kenya, Ghana, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda and the UAE. Send specifications or quantities via the contact page, shortlist this balance in the enquiry cart, or check the lab tender page when the purchase is going to tender.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can be measured with Searle's balance?
It measures the surface tension of a soap film or of any transparent liquid, using the deflection of a beam carried by a stretched wire when the film or liquid surface pulls on it.
Why is the balance on a tripod with a levelling screw?
The beam must start from a known, steady position for the deflection to mean anything. The tripod gives a firm footing and the levelling screw lets the balance be set correctly on an uneven bench.
How does it differ from the capillary-rise method?
Capillary rise infers surface tension from a column height in a narrow tube, while Searle's balance measures the pulling force of the surface on the beam directly, so it also works for soap films.
Is Science Lab Supplies the manufacturer or a trader?
Science Lab Supplies is a manufacturer, not a reseller. This balance is fabricated at its works in Saha, Ambala, India, and the company prices and ships each order from there.
Related Surface Tension and Torsion Apparatus
These surface tension, capillarity, torsion and viscosity items extend the liquids and elasticity practicals that sit around Searle's balance in a properties-of-matter laboratory, and any of them can be listed on the same quotation as the balance for a single order.
- Quincke's Surface Tension Apparatus — intended for determining the surface tension of mercury.
- Jaeger's Surface Tension Apparatus — wide-mouth bottle with a two-hole cork and dropping funnel; aspirator not included.
- Rising Table with Capillary Tube Clamp — round cast aluminium table 4 inches across.
- Capillary Tube Apparatus — shows how capillary pressure depends on the bore of the tube.
- Capillary Tubes — heat-resistant and chemical-resistant clear glass.
- Torsion Apparatus Searle's Type — two cast iron feet joined by supporting rods, holding the test rod in a split collet chuck.
- Viscometer Searle's Pattern — outer cylinder that can be clamped at any height, for very viscous liquids.
Browse the full Elasticity and Surface Tension range, the Properties of Matter range for liquids and pressure, or all physics lab equipment.
Last updated: 9 October 2026