Question

Water
Mercury
a) Which liquid undergoes capillary depression?
b) Explain the reason for capillary depression?
of two
c) To which point does the capillary rise of a liquid happen against the gravitational force?
d) What is the relation between the diameter of a tube and capillary rise?​

Answer 1

Answer:

a)Mercury

b)When the adhesive force of the liquid with the wall of the container is less than the cohesive force of the liquid then we observe the capillary depression. Mercury is a liquid that shows capillary depression. Mercury does not wet the walls of the container.

c)Capillary action occurs when the adhesion to the walls is stronger than the cohesive forces between the liquid molecules. The height to which capillary action will take water in a uniform circular tube (picture to right) is limited by surface tension and, of course, gravity.

d)The capillary rise is inversely proportional to the tube radius. It can be also applied to the case where the liquid level in the tube decreases below the outer liquid surface; this situation happens when θ=90°