1. What is Capillary Rise?

Capillary rise (or depression) is the rise or fall in a liquid due to a net upward force produced by the attraction of the liquid molecules to a solid surface. This phenomenon occurs when water contacts glass surfaces.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the capillary rise formula:

Where:

• \( h_c \) — Capillary rise (m)
• \( \sigma \) — Surface tension (N/m)
• \( r_t \) — Radius of tube (m)
• \( W \) — Specific weight of water (kN/m³)

Explanation: The formula calculates the height to which water will rise in a capillary tube based on surface tension, tube radius, and the specific weight of water.

3. Importance of Capillary Rise Calculation

Details: Understanding capillary rise is crucial in soil mechanics, construction materials analysis, and various engineering applications where water movement through porous materials is a concern.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter surface tension in N/m, radius of tube in meters, and specific weight of water in kN/m³. All values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What factors affect capillary rise?
A: Capillary rise is primarily affected by surface tension, tube radius, liquid density, and the contact angle between the liquid and solid surface.

Q2: Why is the specific weight multiplied by 1000?
A: The multiplication by 1000 converts the specific weight from kN/m³ to N/m³ to maintain consistent units throughout the calculation.

Q3: What is the typical surface tension value for water?
A: At 20°C, the surface tension of water is approximately 0.07275 N/m.

Q4: How does tube radius affect capillary rise?
A: Capillary rise is inversely proportional to tube radius - smaller tubes result in greater capillary rise.

Q5: What are practical applications of capillary rise?
A: Capillary action is important in soil moisture movement, ink pens, medical diagnostics, and various industrial processes.