Question

Two capillary tubes of different diameters are dipped in water. The rise of water is ______.

Options

• zero in both the tubes.

• same in both the tubes.

• more in the tube of larger diameter.

• more in the tube of smaller diameter.

Answer 1

Two capillary tubes of different diameters are dipped in water. The rise of water is more in the tube of smaller diameter.

Explanation:

The rise of water in a capillary tube is expressed as, h = `(2"T" cos theta)/("rdg")`

where, h = height of the capillary rise, T = surface tension, r = radius of the capillary tube, g = gravitational acceleration and d = density of the liquid

Here, T, d and g remain constant.

So, `"h" prop 1/"r"`

The rise of water is more in the tube of smaller radius.