Adhesive force and surface tension

In summary, there is a liquid in a capillary tube that is being pulled by both adhesive force and surface tension. According to Newton's third law, both forces will be equal. The substance of the tube does not affect the force, as it is determined by the surface tension. The adhesive force refers to the interaction between the liquid and solid surfaces, which is a factor in determining the motion of the liquid.
  • #1
jd12345
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there is a liquid in a capillary tube. The tube pulls the liquid because of adhesive force and liquid pulls the tube because of surface tension. Will both the forces be equal? according to Newtons third law-yes

I don't understand this. IF this is the case then whatever the substance tube is made up of it will pull the liquid with the same force - which is the force by the surface tension
 
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  • #2
I don't understand what you mean by 'adhesive force'. Wetting (that is, motion of the three-phase contact line) involves competition between the (in your case) liquid-solid and air-solid interfacial energies.
 

What is adhesive force?

Adhesive force is the attractive force between two different substances. It is the force that causes two dissimilar materials to stick together.

What is surface tension?

Surface tension is the force that causes the surface of a liquid to contract and for droplets to form. It is caused by the cohesive forces between the molecules of the liquid.

How are adhesive force and surface tension related?

Adhesive force and surface tension are related because both are caused by intermolecular forces between substances. Adhesive force is the force between two different substances, while surface tension is the force within a single substance.

What factors affect adhesive force and surface tension?

The strength of adhesive force and surface tension can be affected by temperature, molecular weight, and the type of molecules present. Higher temperatures and lower molecular weights tend to decrease both adhesive force and surface tension.

How are adhesive force and surface tension used in daily life?

Adhesive force and surface tension are used in many everyday products, such as glue, tape, and detergents. They are also important in nature, for example in the formation of raindrops and the ability of insects to walk on water.

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