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Capillary effects

This article has been downloaded from IOPscience. Please scroll down to see the full text article. 2000 Phys. Educ. 35 262 (http://iopscience.iop.org/0031-9120/35/4/08) View the table of contents for this issue, or go to the journal homepage for more

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TEACHING PHYSICS

Capillary effects
Dragia Ivanov and Hristina Petrova
Department of Physics, Faculty of Education, P Hilendarsky University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria

We examine capillary tubes with a variable cross section, in which there is a column of fully wetting or fully non-wetting liquid. The direction in which the liquid moves when the tubes are placed horizontally is determined by means of Pascals law. We promote the idea that the conical capillary tube is a hydraulic machine, whose two pistons are the liquid columns free surfaces, which have different radii. We propose a new way of demonstrating the described capillary effects by means
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of at models of capillary tubes, constructed from glass plates. The demonstrations are presented in front of a large audience using an overhead projector.

It is well known that there are various capillary effects depending on the shape of the vessels containing different liquids (tubes, cuvettes, etc) and the kinds of materials that constitute the vessels and liquids [1, 2]. We shall analyse

TEACHING PHYSICS

Figure 1. Glass capillary tube in the shape of a truncated cone, in which there is a column of fully wetting liquid.

some of these effects, which, in our opinion, are accessible for research in school and are very instructive. Let us examine a glass capillary tube in the shape of a truncated cone placed horizontally (gure 1), in which there is a column of fully wetting liquid (water, spirit). The free surfaces of the liquid column are spherical with radii R1 and R2 . The spherical concave surface of the large meniscus creates an additional pressure 2 P1 = R1 which causes a reduction in the cohesion pressure in the liquid. By analogy, the small meniscus creates an additional pressure P2 = 2 R2

By analogy, the force acting on the small meniscus is F2 = P1 S2 = r2 2 2 r2 = 2 2 R1 R1

where r2 is the radius of this cross section of the tube. This force points to the axis line on the left towards the inside of the liquid. Since P2 > P1 and S1 > S2 , it is clear that F1 > F2 . The difference of the two forces is F = F1 F2 = 2
2 r2 r1 2 R2 R1

which also causes a reduction in the cohesion pressure in the liquid. Since R1 > R2 we have P1 < P2 . The conical capillary tube could be said to be a kind of a hydraulic machine. The two pistons of the machine are, in fact, the two free surfaces of the liquid with different radii. According to Pascals law the pressure P2 , created by the small meniscus, is transmitted to every point of the liquid, including the large meniscus. As a result, the following force acts upon the large meniscus: F1 = P2 S1 = r2 2 2 r1 = 2 1 R2 R2

This force points in the direction of the narrowing of the capillary tube and moves the liquid column in that direction. Nevertheless, the liquid cannot ow out of the tube. This could only happen on the condition that the liquid reaches the end of the tube and the meniscus turns from concave into at and then into convex. So, the radius R2 starts to increase, but when it reaches R1 , i.e. R2 = R1 , then F2 = F1 and the movement stops (gure 2). The strictly mathematical treatment of the formula for the resulting force, which acts in the conical capillary tube, is given in the appendix. The hydraulic capillary machine does exist, and in an exceptionally important natural variant at that. The movement of liquids in the stems

where r1 is the radius of this cross section of the tube. This force points to the axis line on the right towards the inside of the liquid.

Figure 2. The liquid cannot ow out of the conical tube because the meniscus must turn from concave to convex.
Phys. Educ. 35(4) July 2000

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TEACHING PHYSICS

Figure 3. Cylindrical glass tube with two different cross sections. Figure 5. Flat model of a glass capillary tube of conical cross section, made from glass plates.

Figure 4. Conical capillary tube containing a non-wetting liquid.

(constructed from glass plates) projected with an overhead projector. The liquid used is spirit. The construction of the cuvettes and various demonstrations in molecular physics performed with them are described in [3]. Conical capillary tube of wetting liquid

of plants from the roots to the leaves takes place along capillary tubes that gradually become narrower. All ora exist because of this fact. A similar effect exists in the cardiovascular system of animals. Blood is supplied in the narrowing capillaries in the same manner. Figure 3 shows a cylindrical capillary tube with two different cross sections of radii R1 and R2 . By analogy with the conical capillary tube, the column of fully wetting liquid in it is moved in the direction of the narrower tube by a force F = 2
2 R1 R2 2 R2 R1

If the conical capillary tube (gure 4) is lled with non-wetting liquid (mercury in glass), convex meniscuses will result. Following arguments similar those above, we conclude that under the inuence of a force F = 2
2 r1 r2 2 R2 R1

the liquid moves in the direction in which the capillary tube widens.

Two glass plates are placed between two other glass plates, 3 mm thick and measuring, for example, 2 cm 10 cm. This conguration is held together with metal clips. Thus we have a at model of a capillary tube with conical cross section (gure 5). Slightly coloured spirit (e.g. with iodine) is injected in the canal. When tilted, the liquid moves towards the wide end of the tube. Afterwards, the cuvette is placed horizontally onto the surface of the overhead projector. A gradual movement of the liquid towards the narrower end is observed. It is recommended that this demonstration be carried out with spirit, which not only wets the glass very well but also cleans the dirty surfaces. When the cuvette is placed horizontally the force of gravity is eliminated and the concave meniscuses are clearly formed as a result of the spirit fully wetting the two glass side walls. During this demonstration, as well as during the following ones, the cuvettes must be placed horizontally upon the surface of the projector. Spirit should be used in all experiments. Cylindrical capillary tube with two different cross sections A at model of a capillary tube with two different cross sections can similarly be constructed from glass plates and clips (gure 6). A column of spirit is injected. When the cuvette is

Demonstrations
We can demonstrate the capillary effects described above, as well as some others, before a large audience with the help of special glass cuvettes
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Phys. Educ. 35(4) July 2000

TEACHING PHYSICS

Figure 6. Flat model of a cylindrical capillary tube with two different cross sections.

Figure 8. Demonstration of the dependence of the surface tension coefcient on the temperature with a at model of a cylindrical capillary tube.

Figure 7. Flat model of a conical capillary tube of non-wetting liquid.

the hot meniscus moves the column in the direction of the cooler meniscus. If the other meniscus is heated, the direction of movement of the column changes. We could say that this is a model of a thermal hydraulic capillary machine.

Appendix
placed horizontally, the column moves towards the narrower end of the tube. Conical capillary tube of non-wetting liquid Two long glass plates are shaped so that one end is considerably narrower than the other. The plates are separated at both ends by other smaller plates and held together with the help of clips (gure 7). Obviously, the two side walls of the at model of the conical capillary tube are thus removed. As there is no interaction with the side walls, when a column of spirit is injected between the plates, two convex meniscuses with different radii are formed. When the cuvette is placed horizontally, the liquid column moves towards the wider end of the tube. Dependence of the surface tension coefcient on temperature We can effectively demonstrate this dependence with a at model of a cylindrical capillary tube (gure 8) constructed similarly. A column of spirit is injected in the cuvette and it is placed horizontally (in this position the column is stationary). Under these circumstances two identical concave meniscuses are formed. One of them is heated with an induction soldering iron from a short distance. The soldering iron, however, should not touch the glass. A force resulting from the considerable decrease of of We shall denote the angle of narrowing of the tube towards the axis line by (gure 9). In order to be able to read the projections of the forces, we orientate the abscissa x-axis along the axis line of the tube in the direction of its narrowing. In the case of full wetting, the resulting force from the side of the great meniscus of the liquid column is |F1 | = 2 r1 = 2 R1 cos and its components per unit length, f1 / l = , are tangential to the generatrix of the cone. The geometrical projection of this force on the x-axis, F1x , points to the left (out of the liquid), i.e. the projection of the force on this axis is negative: F1x = 2 R1 cos2 . This force acts perpendicularly to a circle with area 2 2 S1 = r1 = R1 cos2 and creates additional pressure in the liquid: P1 = |F1x | 2 2 R1 cos2 = = 2 S1 R1 R1 cos2

with which the cohesion pressure in the liquid is reduced, and it may formally be assumed to be negative. According to Pascals law this pressure is transmitted to every point of the liquid, including the two meniscuses.
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TEACHING PHYSICS

Figure 9. Glass capillary tube in the shape of a truncated cone, in which there is a column of fully wetting liquid.

It is apparent that F1x = P1 S1 . Examining the small meniscus, by analogy, we establish that due to the full wetting, the force acting on the liquid column is |F2 | = 2R2 cos . The geometrical projection F2x of this force on the x-axis points to the right (out of the liquid), i.e. the projection of the force on this axis is positive: F2x = 2R2 cos2 . This force acts perpendicularly on a circle with 2 2 area S2 = r2 = R2 cos2 and creates an additional pressure in the liquid: P2 = |F2x | 2 2R2 cos2 = = . 2 2 S2 R2 R2 cos

As a result of the pressure P , the force acting on the free surface with radius R2 points to the liquid, i.e. its projection on the x-axis is negative: F2x = (P1 + P2 )S2 . The projection of the entire force acting on the small meniscus is F2x = F2x + F2x = P2 S2 (P1 + P2 )S2
2 R2 cos2 . R1 The projection of the entire force acting on the liquid column both on the side of the large meniscus and on the side of the small meniscus is

= P1 S2 = 2

According to Pascals law it is also transmitted to every point of the liquid, including the two meniscuses. It is apparent that F2x = P2 S2 . So, as a result of the contorted free surfaces, the resultant pressure is P = P1 + P2 = 2 1 1 + R1 R2 .

Fx = F1x + F2x = P2 S1 P1 S2 2 R2 R1 = 2 cos2 2 . R2 R1 Since R1 > R2 , this projection is positive, i.e. it points in the direction of the narrowing of the capillary tube and moves the liquid in that direction.
Received 31 January 2000, in nal form 27 March 2000 PII: S0031-9120(00)11547-3

Due to the pressure P , the resultant force acting on the free surface with radius R1 points to the liquid, i.e. its projection on the x-axis is positive: F1x = (P1 + P2 )S1 . The projection of the entire force acting on the large meniscus is F1x = F1x + F1x = P1 S1 + (P1 + P2 )S1 = P2 S1 = 2
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2 R1 cos2 . R2

References
[1] Kikoin I K and Kikoin A K 1976 Molecular Physics (Moscow) [2] Sivouhin D V 1979 Thermodynamics and Molecular Physics (Moscow) [3] Ivanov D T 1996 New possibilities for demonstrating some phenomena in molecular physics Physics 14 328

Phys. Educ. 35(4) July 2000