Name: _______________________________ Date:

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering __ Engr. Arjane C. Lacambra

EXPERIMENT NO. 7
MEASUREMENT OF CAPILLARY RISE
OBJECTIVE: To measure capillary rise produced in capillary tubes of different sizes and
compare it with the estimated values.
APPARATUS:
a.) Capillary tubes of different radii
b.) Water
c.) Beaker
d.) Caliper
e.) Glass plate to fix the tubes
g.) Laboratory Jack/support base to keep the beaker
h.) Support stands and clamps.

THEORY:
Capillarity is the combined effect of cohesive and adhesive forces that cause liquids to
rise in tubes of very small diameter. In case of water in a capillary tube, the adhesive force draws
it up along the sides of the glass tube to form a meniscus. The cohesive force also acts at the
same time to minimize the distance between the water molecules by pulling the bottom of the
meniscus up against the force of gravity.

The formula of the height brought by capillary rise is given by:

4σ
h=
γd

where: 𝒉 = capillarity rise or depression in m

𝜸 = unit weight in N/m3
𝒅 = diameter of the tube in m
𝝈 = surface tension in N/m, (use Table 1 for the values of surface tension at different temperature)

PROCEDURE:
1. Prepare well-cleaned capillary tubes.
2. Place the panel in the receiver with a certain level of water.
3. Place a cardboard between the capillary tubes.
4. Mark the cardboard at the height of capillary rising in each tube.
5. Measure the capillary rise “H” in each tube.
 Table 1. Surface Tension of Water at some Temperature
Temperature Surface Tension
(°C) (N/m)
0 0.0757
10 0.0742
20 0.0728
30 0.0712
40 0.0696
50 0.0679
60 0.0662
70 0.0644
80 0.0626
90 0.0608
100 0.0588

TABULATION:

Capillary Rise, h (mm)

No. Tube Diameter (mm)
Observed Calculated
1
2
3

SOLUTIONS: