What term describes the property of a fluid where its molecules are attracted to each other?

Cohesion is the property of a fluid where its molecules are attracted to each other. This molecular attraction creates a strong internal force that causes the fluid to maintain its volume and shape under certain conditions, leading to phenomena such as surface tension. For example, water droplets tend to form spherical shapes because the cohesive forces between water molecules pull them together.

In contrast, ideal fluid refers to a theoretical concept where a fluid has no viscosity and does not experience turbulence, which does not specifically describe molecular interactions. Pilot tube is a device used to measure fluid flow, relating to fluid dynamics rather than molecular attraction. Adhesion describes the attraction between different substances, such as water molecules sticking to a surface, which while important in understanding fluid behavior, does not pertain to the attraction among the fluid's own molecules.