2006-10-28 15:42:49 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
bascially, capillary action consist of cohesive and adhesive forces.
cohesive force is the force of attraction between liquid molecules.
adhesive force is the force of attraction between a medium and the molecules.
the narrower the space, the higher the liquid will travel up by capillary actions
2006-10-28 15:55:47 · answer #1 · answered by Another Stranger 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's hard to describe the process in words without drawing a picture in words. If you were to put the corner of an old-fashioned desk blotter into a shallow pan of water, capillary action is the process by which water from the pan would travel up the entire blotter, including the major part of it that was not in the water or wet at the outset, until most if not all of the blotter was wet.
The result would be similar if you were to place a corner of a fluffy bath towel into a bathtub containing only a few inches of water. The water would eventually travel up the towel, almost like an Army recruit in basic training climbing a rope hand over hand, to a point way beyond where, at the start of the demonstration, the water ended and dry towel began.
2006-10-28 16:28:20 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Capillary action or capillarity (also known as capillary motion) is the ability of a substance (the standard reference is to a tube in plants but can be seen readily with porous paper) to draw a liquid upwards against the force of gravity. It occurs when the adhesive intermolecular forces between the liquid and a solid are stronger than the cohesive intermolecular forces within the liquid. The effect causes a concave meniscus to form where the liquid is in contact with a vertical surface. The same effect is what causes porous materials to soak up liquids.
A common apparatus used to demonstrate capillary action is the capillary tube.
2006-10-28 16:42:11 · answer #3 · answered by musiclover2008 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
when two capillaries go at it with guns and switch blades in an alley
2006-10-28 15:50:26 · answer #4 · answered by Yavetis 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it's when water goes up something, like a straw or tube like thing.
2006-10-28 15:50:20 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's when the solder goes towards the hottest point
2006-10-28 15:46:11 · answer #6 · answered by jaws65 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try going to gawater.usgs.gov/edu/capillary_action.html. They can explain it better than I can.
2006-10-28 15:56:37 · answer #7 · answered by Ed 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋