I Infinite flow with capillary tubes?

Click For Summary
The discussion centers on the capillary tube phenomenon and its implications for infinite water flow. The idea of creating an infinite loop by bending a second tube into a first raises questions about conservation of energy. However, it is clarified that surface tension must overcome gravity for flow to occur. If surface tension is strong enough to lift the water, it will prevent drainage, negating the possibility of infinite flow. Ultimately, the concept of a perpetual motion machine remains impossible due to these physical limitations.
Warp
Messages
139
Reaction score
15
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.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
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
 
  • Like
Likes russ_watters, Vanadium 50, Bystander and 2 others
Thread 'Why higher speeds need more power if backward force is the same?'
Power = Force v Speed Power of my horse = 104kgx9.81m/s^2 x 0.732m/s = 1HP =746W Force/tension in rope stay the same if horse run at 0.73m/s or at 15m/s, so why then horse need to be more powerfull to pull at higher speed even if backward force at him(rope tension) stay the same? I understand that if I increase weight, it is hrader for horse to pull at higher speed because now is backward force increased, but don't understand why is harder to pull at higher speed if weight(backward force)...

Similar threads

Replies
19
Views
2K
Replies
22
Views
55K
Replies
31
Views
6K
  • · Replies 25 ·
Replies
25
Views
3K
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
3K
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 38 ·
2
Replies
38
Views
3K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
3K
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
4K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
4K