GHANI KHAN CHOUDHURY INSTITUTE

OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

CA-2 REPORT

SUBMITTED TO: Dr. Nitesh Mondal

SUBMITTED BY-

NAME- Sushmita Digar

Roll no.- 35500722012

Semester- 4th Sem

Subject- Fluid Mechanics (PC-ME402)

Topic- Capillary Action

Branch- Mechanical Engineering

 Acknowledgement

I would like to express my special thanks to Dr. Nitesh Mondal sir, for his
time and efforts he provided throughout the semester. His useful advice and
suggestions were really helpful to me during the report’s completion. In the
aspect, I am eternally grateful to him.

I would like to acknowledge that this report was done entirely by me.

Sushmita Digar
Mechanical Engineering (B. Tech 2nd year)
 CONTENT
• Introduction
• Mechanism of Capillary Action
• Factors Affecting Capillary Action
• Important Points Regarding Capillary Action
• Applications of Capillary Action
• Conclusion
• Reference
 INTRODUCTION
Capillary action is a fascinating phenomenon in fluid mechanics where
liquids defy gravity and rise or fall in narrow tubes, known as capillaries.
This phenomenon plays a crucial role in various natural processes and
engineering applications. Capillary action can be defined as the ascension
of liquids through slim tube, cylinder or permeable substance due to
adhesive and cohesive forces interacting between the liquid and the
surface. When intermolecular bonding of a liquid itself is substantially
inferior to a substances’ surface it is interacting, capillarity occurs. Also,
the diameter of the container as well as the gravitational forces will
determine amount of liquid raised. While, water possesses this unique
property, a liquid like mercury will not display the same attributes due to
the fact that it has higher cohesive force than adhesive force.
Understanding capillary action is essential in fields such as biology,
chemistry, material science, and microfluidics.
 MECHANISM OF CAPILLARY ACTION
Capillary action occurs due to the combination of adhesive and cohesive forces
acting within the liquid and between the liquid and the solid surface of the
capillary tube. Adhesive forces between the liquid molecules and the solid surface
of the capillary cause the liquid to wet the surface. Cohesive forces between the
liquid molecules themselves cause them to stick together. When a capillary tube
is placed in a liquid, the liquid will either rise or fall depending on the balance
between these adhesive and cohesive forces.

Three main variables that determine whether a liquid possesses capillary action
are:

• Cohesive force: It is the intermolecular bonding of a substance where its

mutual attractiveness forces them to maintain a certain shape of the liquid.
• Surface tension: This occurs as a result of like molecules, cohesive forces,
banding together to form a somewhat impenetrable surface on the body of
water. The surface tension is measured in Newton/meter.
• Adhesive force: When forces of attraction between unlike molecules
occur, it is called adhesive forces.

Capillary action only occurs when the adhesive forces are stronger than the
cohesive forces, which invariably becomes surface tension, in the liquid.
 FACTOR AFFECTING CAPILLARY ACTION

• Capillary Tube Diameter: Capillary action is more pronounced in tubes

with smaller diameters due to the increased dominance of surface tension
effects.

• Surface Tension: Higher surface tension leads to greater capillary rise, as

the cohesive forces within the liquid are stronger.

• Contact Angle: The angle formed between the liquid-solid interface and the
solid surface affects the degree of wetting and hence the capillary action.

• Gravity: Gravity opposes capillary action, so larger capillaries or low

surface tension liquids may not exhibit noticeable effects in the presence
of gravity.
 IMPORTANT POINTS REGARDING
CAPILLARITY ACTION
(i) Capillarity Depends on the Nature of the Liquid and Solid

i.e., 𝑇, 𝑃, 𝑅 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑄

Where,

𝑇 – 𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒 𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛

𝜌 – 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑙𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑑

𝑅 – 𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑢𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑎𝑝𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑎𝑟𝑦

𝑄 – 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑐𝑡

𝐼𝑓 𝜃 > 90°:

The meniscus is convex, and h will be negative (ℎ = −𝑣𝑒), which means the
liquid will fall (descend) in the capillary.

i.e., actually, it happens in the case of mercury in a glass tube.

If 𝜃 = 90°:

This means the meniscus is plane, so (ℎ = 0), and there is no capillarity.

If 𝜃 < 90°:
The meniscus is concave, and h will be positive (ℎ = +𝑣𝑒). This means the
liquid level rises up (ascends) in the capillary, which is shown in Figure (3).

(ii) Angle of Contact

The angle of contact is defined as the angle between the tangent drawn to the
liquid surface at a point of contact of the liquid and the solid inside the liquid. It
depends on the nature of both solid and liquid. For concave, the meniscus of liquid
will be acute, and for convex, the meniscus of liquid will be obtuse.

(iii) For a Given Liquid and Solid at a Given Condition, P, T, Θ and G Are
Constant

Hr = constant ……………….(5)

i.e., the lesser the radius of capillarity (R) and greater will be the rise and vice-
versa.

(iv) Independent of the Shape of the Capillary

At equilibrium, the height (h) is independent of the shape of the capillary (If the
radius of the meniscus remains the same). This is why the vertical height (h) of a
liquid column in capillaries of different sizes and shapes will be the same. (If the
radius of the meniscus remains the same and then the vertical height (h) of the
capillaries also remains the same even for different capillaries). It is given below
in Figure.

In capillarity, the excess pressure is balanced by hydrostatic pressure and not by

force due to surface tension by weight.

In general,
 2𝑇
= ℎ𝜌𝑔…………….(1)
𝑟

And

𝑇𝐿 = 𝑚𝑔

2𝜋𝑟𝑇 = 𝜋𝑟 2 ℎ𝜌𝑔…………(2)
Equation (2) is valid only for cylindrical tubes and cannot be applied to other
situations shown in Figure (4). But Equation (1) is the general case (v). In case of
a capillary of insufficient length (L < h) (the capillary is less than the excepted
rise of liquid), the liquid will neither overflow from the upper end, i.e., fountain,
nor will it tickle along the vertical sides of the capillary. The liquid, after reaching
the upper end, will increase the radius of its meniscus without changing its nature
in such cases.

ℎ𝑟 = 𝐿𝑟 ′

Liquid Meniscus in Capillarity

In capillarity, the liquid meniscus can be:

(i) concave meniscus

(ii) convex meniscus

(iii) plane meniscus

To understand this, let us take a liquid drop (or) bubble; as we know, due to the
property of surface tension, every liquid tries to minimise or contract its free
surface area. Similarly, a liquid drop or bubble also tries to compress (contract)
its surface, and so it compresses the matter enclosed.

In the case of a liquid drop

For a liquid drop, excess pressure is provided by the hydrostatic pressure of the
liquid.

In the case of a bubble

For the bubble, the excess pressure is provided by the gauge pressure of the gas
confined in the bubble.
 APPLICATIONS OF CAPILLARY ACTION

Practical use of capillary action is evident in all forms of our daily lives. It makes
performing our tasks efficiently and effectively. Some applications of this unique
property include:

• The fundamental properties are used to absorb water by using paper towels.
The cohesive and adhesive properties draw the fluid into the paper towel.
The liquid flows into the paper towel at a certain rate.
• A technique called thin layer chromatography uses capillary action in
which a layer of liquid is used to separate mixtures from substances.
• Capillary action helps us naturally by pumping out tear fluid in the eye.
This process cleanses the eye and clears all of the dust and particles that
are around the ducts of the eye.
• To generate energy: A possible use for capillary action is as a source of
renewable energy. By allowing water to climb through capillaries,
evaporate once it reaches the top, the condensate and drop back down to
the bottom spinning a turbine on its way to create the energy, capillary
action can make electricity! Although this idea is still in the works, it goes
to show the potential that capillary action holds and how important it is.
• Plant Physiology: Capillary action is fundamental in the transportation of
water and nutrients in plants from roots to leaves through xylem vessels.
• Medical Diagnostics: Microfluidic devices utilize capillary action for
precise control and manipulation of small volumes of fluids, making them
invaluable tools in medical diagnostics and point-of-care testing.
• Ink Pens and Fountain Pens: Capillary action draws ink from the reservoir
onto the writing tip, enabling smooth and continuous writing.
 CONCLUSION
Capillary action is a fundamental concept in fluid mechanics with widespread
applications across various disciplines. Its intricate interplay between adhesive
and cohesive forces continues to intrigue scientists and engineers, paving the way
for innovations in fields ranging from biotechnology to nanotechnology.
Understanding and harnessing the principles of capillary action is essential for
advancing technologies and addressing complex challenges in the modern world.

This report provides a brief overview of capillary action, its mechanisms,

influencing factors, and applications. Further research and experimentation are
necessary to explore its full potential and implications in diverse scientific and
engineering domains.
 REFERENCE
1. Petrucci, Ralph, and William Harwood. F. Geoffrey Herring. Jeffry
Madura. General Chemistry: Principles and Modern Applications. 9th ed.
Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson, 2007.
2. Cyclical Gravity Greenhouse Liquid Capillary Action Energy Generator,
R Smith, 9.11.2005 14:38,
3. Capillary Action, Wikipedia
4. Capillary Action, from USGS Water Science for Schools." USGS Georgia
Water Science Center - Home Page. Web. 04 June 2011.