What is the primary cause of the phenomenon of capillarity?
Practice Questions
Q1
What is the primary cause of the phenomenon of capillarity?
Cohesion
Adhesion
Viscosity
Density
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
What is the primary cause of the phenomenon of capillarity?
Step 1: Understand what capillarity is. It is the ability of a liquid to rise or fall in a narrow space, like a thin tube.
Step 2: Learn about adhesion. Adhesion is the force that attracts liquid molecules to the surface of a solid.
Step 3: Recognize that when a liquid comes into contact with a solid, the adhesive forces between the liquid and the solid can pull the liquid up or down.
Step 4: Realize that if the adhesive forces are stronger than the cohesive forces (the attraction between the liquid molecules themselves), the liquid will rise in the narrow space.
Step 5: Conclude that the primary cause of capillarity is the adhesion between the liquid molecules and the solid surface.
