Why does water rise higher in thinner capillary tubes?
Capillary action is the phenomenon of water rising up a tube with no outside motivator. This is a result of the forces of cohesion, adhesion and surface tension.CohesionCohesion is the characteristic of water to stick to itself. For instance, water spilled on a flat surface will retain definite boundaries instead of spreading itself indefinitely.AdhesionWater molecules cling. Fabrics, dirt and even your hair stay wet due to water’s adhesive properties.Surface TensionA film is created on the surface of water by the water molecules’ attraction to each other. This is the mechanism that allows objects from leaves to battleships to float.Capillary ActionCapillary action is the result of water’s adhesion to a tube’s sides. The water adheres and rises; cohesion causes the water molecules to stay close together, and surface tension causes the water level to rise as a whole. Capillary action is limited by the weight of the water. When the weight overcomes these forces, capillary action stops.Le