Water in capillary tube and friction

AI Thread Summary
When a capillary tube is placed in water, it rises until the surface tension (ST) force equals the weight of the water. If water is drained from the tube, the ST force can exceed the weight, yet the water does not continuously rise. The discussion highlights that only the vertical component of ST is relevant for balancing weight, and both ST forces act upwards. The balance of forces, including adhesive and cohesive forces, determines the water's behavior in the tube. Ultimately, the shapes of the water surfaces adjust until all forces are balanced.
Omish
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When we put an empty capillary tube in a water container, the water goes up a little bit by itself until the surface tension (ST) force is equal to its weight .This shows that unlike friction, this ST force acts individually .
So if we take out the tube out of the container, and drain a little water (in which case there's less water in it), the ST force would be more than the weight of water. So why doesn't it go up continuously in the tube?
 
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Think about it for just a little bit longer than it takes to ask the question. What are all the forces acting on the water mass?
 
Bystander said:
Think about it for just a little bit longer than it takes to ask the question. What are all the forces acting on the water mass?
Well,
1- wight
2- ST on the top side
3- ST on the bottom side
If by the question you mean that the sum of first & third force cancle the 2nd force I think it's wrong. I believe that both STs are in the same direction (upwards) since the tube can hold more water while out of the container. I encountered this point in a book and experienced it myself.
By the way the P_atm is also cancled obviously since it affects both sides.
 
Omish said:
both STs are in the same direction (upwards)
 
Yes they're in the same direction so they both help the water go up, but this actually won't happen. My question is why?!
 
Here is a picture of it.
f057311016.jpg
 
Omish said:
So why doesn't it go up continuously in the tube?
For the reason you stated:
Omish said:
the water goes up a little bit by itself until the surface tension (ST) force is equal to its weight.
But note that only the vertical component of ST is relevant for balancing weight.
 
A.T. said:
For the reason you stated:

But note that only the vertical component of ST is relevant for balancing weight.
Please read the question carefully ! Seems you didn't get the point.
First of all it doesn't act like friction forces, in other words F_capillary is not always equal to weight of column of water necessarily! (if it was equal, the water wouldn't be sucked up in the first place)
Then we have h_1 as the height of water when the tube is in container. So : (there's ST only on top side)
F_capillary_top = Gamma * A * h_1
Then we take it out and drain some of it so it would be h_2 < h_1
Then obviously (according to the picture above and my explanation) we have:
F_capillary_top + F_capillary_bottom > Gamma * A * h_2
So the water must go up!
 
Omish said:
F_capillary is not always equal to weight of column of water necessarily!
The shapes of the water surfaces adjust, until the forces balance.
 
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A.T. said:
The shapes of the water surfaces adjust, until the forces balance.
This could be the answer except one problem. In that way when the tube is completely empty, there's no need to be any ST (or as you say change in water sarface). Nevertheless the water is sucked from container when we put the tube in it. How do you explain this?
 
  • #11
Omish said:
...there's no need to be any ST (or as you say change in water sarface).
The adhesive and cohesive forces exist, regardless if there is any "need" for them. The changes in the surface shape occur, if those forces are not balanced with other forces (like weight).
 
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  • #12
A.T. said:
The adhesive and cohesive forces exist, regardless if there is any "need" for them. The changes in the surface shape occur, if those forces are not balanced with other forces (like weight).
I got it completely thanks to your explanation and some more little experiments. Thank you so much.
A.T. said:
The shapes of the water surfaces adjust, until the forces balance.
This was also very useful.
 
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