Meniscus Formation: Increase Free Surface Area of Water

[abhinavjeet]

For water in a tube wouldn't meniscus formation increase the free surface area of water

 

[Simon Bridge]

Compared with the surface without the tube? (Note: a meniscus forms wherever a solid object is dipped into a liquid.)
Does the adhesion at the contact surface produce a parallel sheer stress? If "yes" then it is not a free surface.
Would a meniscus form at all without adhesion - i.e. from surface tension alone?

http://www.mne.psu.edu/cimbala/Learning/Fluid/Fluid_Prop/fluid_property.htm