Final answer:
The question addresses the physics concept of surface tension, which explains why water droplets tend to form a spherical shape to minimize surface area, influenced by cohesive and adhesive forces.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question 'Consider eight little water droplets in a single sphere' relates to the phenomenon of surface tension in liquid physics. Surface tension is the result of cohesive forces between adjacent molecules that lead to the formation of a spherical shape in water droplets. When water droplets combine, they tend to form a sphere due to these attractive forces.
This is because a sphere has the smallest possible surface area for a given volume, and a lower surface area minimizes the potential for molecules to be exposed to the environment. In space, the absence of gravity means that droplets and air bubbles will naturally form into spheres to minimize surface area. Drops of water on a waxed car form round beads for the same reason, though on Earth, the perfect spherical shape can be slightly distorted by gravity.
Cohesive forces are responsible for the spherical shape as they hold the water molecules together. In contrast, adhesive forces can make water spread on surfaces, depending on the surface's properties. For example, rainwater forms beads on a waxed car but spreads out on a dirty car with polar substances on its surface.