A capillary tube is dipped in water. What is the shape of the water surface inside the tube?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
A capillary tube is dipped in water. What is the shape of the water surface inside the tube?
Flat
Concave
Convex
Irregular
The water surface inside the capillary tube is concave due to the adhesive forces between water and the tube material being stronger than the cohesive forces among water molecules.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
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Q
Q: A capillary tube is dipped in water. What is the shape of the water surface inside the tube?
Solution: The water surface inside the capillary tube is concave due to the adhesive forces between water and the tube material being stronger than the cohesive forces among water molecules.
Steps: 7
Step 1: Understand what a capillary tube is. It is a very thin tube that can draw liquids up into it.
Step 2: Know that when the tube is dipped in water, the water tries to move up into the tube.
Step 3: Learn about adhesive forces. These are the forces that attract water molecules to the material of the tube.
Step 4: Learn about cohesive forces. These are the forces that attract water molecules to each other.
Step 5: Compare the adhesive forces and cohesive forces. In this case, the adhesive forces between the water and the tube are stronger than the cohesive forces among the water molecules.
Step 6: Because the adhesive forces are stronger, the water will climb up the sides of the tube and create a curve.
Step 7: This curve in the water surface is called a concave shape, meaning it dips down in the middle.
