Concept:Fluid pressure is a scalar property existing at every point within a fluid, not just at solid boundaries.
Surface tension arises from the higher potential energy of surface molecules compared to interior molecules.
Explanation:Consider an imaginary cube of fluid inside a still fluid.
The fluid below exerts an upward force to balance gravity, showing pressure acts everywhere inside the fluid.
Thus, Statement I is false because pressure exists throughout the fluid, not only on solid surfaces.
For a molecule inside the fluid, all intermolecular forces are balanced (net force zero).
At the surface, molecules experience a net inward force due to missing neighbours above.
Bringing an interior molecule to the surface requires work against this inward force, increasing its potential energy.
The system minimises energy by reducing surface area, leading to the stretched-membrane behaviour known as surface tension.
Hence, Statement II is true.
Answer:Statement I is false, and Statement II is true.
Thus, the correct option is A.
