Surface energy is a physical property that describes the amount of energy required to create a new surface in a material. It arises from the imbalance of intermolecular forces at the surface compared to those in the bulk of the material. Higher surface energy indicates stronger interactions between molecules, which can affect how liquids spread on surfaces and how materials bond with each other. In practical terms, surface energy plays a crucial role in various applications, such as coatings, adhesives, and wetting phenomena. For example, materials with high surface energy tend to attract liquids, making them more suitable for painting or coating, while low surface energy materials may repel liquids, affecting their adhesion properties.