Why does water curve downward when placed in a glass tube
Why do other liquids curve upward if placed in glass tube
Why does water curve downward when placed in a glass tube
Why do other liquids curve upward if placed in glass tube
The formation of the meniscus depends on cohesive and adhesive forces in a liquid. In water adhesive forces are larger than the cohesive forces, therefore water in a container sticks to the wall of the container and rises a little bit, and forms a concave meniscus. In mercury cohesive forces are strong as compared to adhesive forces.
Since water forms a concave up meniscus, the adhesion of the molecules to the glass is stronger than the cohesion among the molecules. However, in the absence of the adhesive force (when water reaches the tip of the glass), the cohesive force remains present.
A concave meniscus, which is what you normally will see, occurs when the molecules of the liquid are attracted to those of the container. This occurs with water and a glass tube. A convex meniscus occurs when the molecules have a stronger attraction to each other than to the container, as with mercury and glass.
The formation of the meniscus depends on cohesive and adhesive forces in a liquid. In water adhesive forces are larger than the cohesive forces, therefore water in a container sticks to the wall of the container and rises a little bit, and forms a concave meniscus. In mercury cohesive forces are strong as compared to adhesive forces.
Since water forms a concave up meniscus, the adhesion of the molecules to the glass is stronger than the cohesion among the molecules. However, in the absence of the adhesive force (when water reaches the tip of the glass), the cohesive force remains present.
A concave meniscus, which is what you normally will see, occurs when the molecules of the liquid are attracted to those of the container. This occurs with water and a glass tube. A convex meniscus occurs when the molecules have a stronger attraction to each other than to the container, as with mercury and glass.
