PHYSICAClass 11 Physics simulations · Mechanical Properties of Fluids
Capillary rise and depression
Dip a narrow tube in a liquid and see surface tension lift or depress the meniscus.
What to notice
A smaller tube produces a larger rise; a non-wetting liquid is depressed.
Key relation
h = 2γ cosθ/(ρgr)
Try this
Move the contact angle past 90°.
What you can change
- Tube radius: 0.2 to 3 mm
- Contact angle: 0 to 150 °
- Surface tension: 20 to 80 mN/m
More in Mechanical Properties of Fluids
- Lift on an aerofoil
- Float or sink?
- Flow through a narrowing pipe
- Pressure inside drops and bubbles
- Hydraulic lift (Pascal)
- Pressure at depth in a tank
- Viscous drag and terminal speed
- Water jet from a tank
- Venturimeter
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