Q. Estimate the capillary rise or depression in a tube of 3 mm diameter when tube is immersed in (a) Water (b) Mercury. Surface tensions for water and mercury at 20º C are 0.075 N/m & 0.52 N/m respectively.
SOLUTION:
Capillary rise or depression h
= (2σ * cosθ)/(wr)
a) In Case of Water :
Surface tension σ = 0.075N / m
Contact angle θ = 0°
Specific weight ω = 9810N / (m ^ 3)
Radius of tube r = 3/2 = 1.5mm = 1.5 * 10 ^ – 3m
h = (2 * 0.075(cos 0°))/(9810 * 1.5 * 10 ^ – 3)
h = 0.0102m
Capillary rise h = 0.0102m
= 10.2mm
(b) In Case of Mercury :
σ = 0.52N / m
θ = 130°
ω = Specific gravity of mercury × Specific weight of water
= (13.6 * 9810)
= 133416N / (m ^ 3)
h = (2 * 0.52cos(130°))/(133416 * 1.5 * 10 ^ – 3)
= – 3.34 ×10 ^ – 3m
-ve sign indicates that there is capillary depression.
Capillary depression = 3.34 × 10-³ m = 3.34 mm.