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What is the formula for capillary action?

yeah been researching for a while but need the proper formula. I have already seen quite a few but would love to know a basic formula to determine the water's height in a capillary tube.

thanks in advance guys!

2 Answers

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    Height raised in capillary, h = [2S(cosA)]/[rρg]

    --where S is surface tension, A is the contact angle , r is the radius of capillary , ρ is the density of liquid and g is acceleration due to gravity

    For a water-filled glass tube in air at standard laboratory conditions, S = 0.0728 N/m at 20 °C, A = 20° (0.35 rad), ρ is 1000 kg/m3, and g = 9.8 m/s2. For these values, the height of the water column is

    h ~ (1.45^10-5)/r m

  • Anonymous
    5 years ago

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    If a capillary tube has radius 'r' is dipped into a liquid of surface tension 'γ' Then within the tube, the air pressure will be 'P(air)' and the rising liquid pressure, just below the meniscus, will be P(liquid). The pressure difference is given by: - P(air) - P(liquid) = 2γ/r If 'h' denotes the distance of capillary rise and 'ρ' is the liquid's density, then: - P(air) + (P(liquid) - P(air)) + hρg = P(air) Thus, at the pressure balance height: - hρg - 2γ/r = 0 Or, the height of rise is: - h = 2γ/(rρg) However, I am not certain that a syphon effect can take place due to capillary action alone! I hope this is of some assistance!

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