Infinite flow with capillary tubes?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the capillary tube phenomenon as presented in a YouTube video by The Action Lab. Participants explore the concept of infinite flow in capillary tubes and its relation to the conservation of energy. It is concluded that while surface tension can lift liquid against gravity, it ultimately prevents any continuous flow, confirming that a perpetual motion machine is not feasible in this context.

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  • Understanding of capillary action and surface tension
  • Basic principles of fluid dynamics
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  • Explore the laws of thermodynamics related to energy conservation
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Warp
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I was watching this YouTube video by the channel The Action Lab:

At one point it shows this capillary tube phenomenon:

capillary_tubes.jpg


It got me immediately thinking: Conservation of energy much?

What's stopping that second tube from being bent into draining into the leftmost tube, thus creating an infinite loop of flowing water, which ought to be impossible because conservation of energy and stuff? If that were done, would there be some other phenomenon stopping the infinite flow of liquid? A perpetual motion machine shouldn't be possible.
 
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Warp said:
A perpetual motion machine shouldn't be possible
It isn’t.

If the surface tension is stronger than gravity to lift it up then it is strong enough to keep it from draining. There will not be any flow
 
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