What is the primary cause of the phenomenon of capillarity?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
What is the primary cause of the phenomenon of capillarity?
Cohesion
Adhesion
Viscosity
Density
Capillarity is primarily caused by adhesion, which is the attraction between the liquid molecules and the surface of the solid.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
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Q
Q: What is the primary cause of the phenomenon of capillarity?
Solution: Capillarity is primarily caused by adhesion, which is the attraction between the liquid molecules and the surface of the solid.
Steps: 5
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.
