surface tension
"Surface tension is like an invisible skin on the water surface. Another way of seeing it is to hold a glass of water up to the light. The slight curvature in the water surface where it meets the glass is caused by surface tension."
"a drop of water on a piece of glass, and a drop of alcohol on a piece of glass.. the rounded bead of water has more surface tension than the flat drop of alcohol. (surface tension is like having a handful of cheerios (atoms/molecules) mixed with honey (attractive force between atoms/molecules) VS cheerios mixed with water."
"SURFACTANTS are the key ingredients in laundry detergents. They are substances that reduce the "surface tension" of the water. Surface tension is like high blood pressure on the surface of water. Surfactants lower the tension making it easier for the water to soak into the laundry. "
"Surface tension is like gravity; it is the force of the water trying to stick together. "
"Surface tension is like a very thin, flexible skin on the surface of a liquid. It happens because all of the molecules in a liquid attract each other."
METAMIA is a free database of analogy and metaphor. Anyone can contribute or search. The subject matter can be anything. Science is popular, but poetry is encouraged. The goal is to integrate our fluid muses with the stark literalism of a relational database. Metamia is like a girdle for your muses, a cognitive girdle.