What is capillary ? What is capillarity o capillary action ?
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Answer:
Capillary action (sometimes capillarity, capillary motion, capillary effect, or wicking) is the ability of a liquid to flow in narrow spaces without the assistance of, or even in opposition to, external forces like gravity. ... It occurs because of intermolecular forces between the liquid and surrounding solid surfaces.
Tubes having very small diameters (narrow cylindrical tubes) are called capillary. If these narrow tubes dipped in a liquid it is observed that liquid in the capillary either rises (or) falls relative to the surrounding liquid level. This phenomenon is called capillary action and such tubes are called capillary.
We can define capillary action as a phenomenon where ascension of liquids through a tube or cylinder takes place. This primarily occurs due to adhesive and cohesive forces.
The liquid is drawn upward due to this interaction between the phenomena. Narrower the tube, higher will the liquid rise. If any of the two phenomena’s i.e. that of surface tension and a ratio between cohesion to adhesion increase the rise will also increase. Although, if the density of the liquid increases, the rise of the liquid in the capillary will lessen.