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Da Apprentice
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I was wondering, why is it that when water is "sucked up" by a syringe that this water stays inside the syringe and doesn't leak out?... Is this because of the surface tension of the water?
Blaze_409 said:I think the explanations here are flawed.
The idea is that a medium,(water/air etc.) that you suck up won't spill back out because of the suction created by the vacuum in the syringe.
Blaze_409 said:… The idea is that a medium,(water/air etc.) that you suck up won't spill back out because of the suction created by the vacuum in the syringe.
Blaze_409 said:I think the explanations here are flawed.
A syringe in effect is a vacuum. In the closed position put your finger over the tip and try to pull the handle on the syringe.(note even if you pull it up, when you let it go it comes back down).
And we know that air vacuum's(physics not the household applaince) don't exist except in space. space is a vacuum
The idea is that a medium,(water/air etc.) that you suck up won't spill back out because of the suction created by the vacuum in the syringe.
KingNothing said:This is what tiny-tim was saying above, just in different words. The air pressure from outside the syringe is too great compared to the pressure inside the syringe for it too fall out.
tiny-tim said:Vacuums (like black holes ) have no sucky-power.
Vacuums have lots of nothing …
in this case, no pressure …
so no downward force on the column …
that's all!
Andy Resnick said:The reason the plunger stays is due to friction between the plunger and barrel.
Surface tension is a physical property of liquids that causes the surface of the liquid to behave like a stretched elastic membrane. It is caused by the cohesive forces between the liquid molecules, which are stronger on the surface due to the lack of neighboring molecules. This creates a "skin" on the surface of the liquid that allows it to resist external forces and maintain its shape.
In a syringe, surface tension is responsible for the formation of a meniscus, which is the curved surface of the liquid at the top of the syringe. This meniscus is created by the surface tension trying to minimize the surface area of the liquid, pulling the liquid up the sides of the syringe.
Water retention, or the ability of a material to absorb and hold onto water, can affect the function of a syringe in two ways. First, if the material used to make the syringe is not water-retentive, it can lead to leakage and loss of liquid. Second, if the material is too water-retentive, it can cause the syringe to become harder to push or pull, making it difficult to accurately measure and dispense liquids.
Yes, the surface tension and water retention of a syringe can be altered by changing the material it is made of. Materials with lower surface tensions, such as plastic or glass, can reduce the amount of liquid that clings to the sides of the syringe. Materials with higher water retention, such as rubber or silicone, can help to prevent leakage and make the syringe easier to use.
The physics of a syringe, specifically surface tension and water retention, can greatly impact its accuracy in measuring liquids. The surface tension of the liquid and the material of the syringe can affect the formation of the meniscus, making it difficult to accurately measure the volume of liquid in the syringe. Water retention can also cause variations in the amount of liquid that is retained in the syringe, leading to inaccurate measurements.