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diff --git a/source/know/concept/capillary-action/index.md b/source/know/concept/capillary-action/index.md deleted file mode 100644 index fea6ef8..0000000 --- a/source/know/concept/capillary-action/index.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,126 +0,0 @@ ---- -title: "Capillary action" -sort_title: "Capillary action" -date: 2021-03-29 -categories: -- Physics -- Fluid mechanics -- Fluid statics -- Surface tension -layout: "concept" ---- - -**Capillary action** refers to the movement of liquid -through narrow spaces due to surface tension, often against gravity. -It occurs when the [Laplace pressure](/know/concept/young-laplace-law/) -from surface tension is much larger in magnitude than the -[hydrostatic pressure](/know/concept/hydrostatic-pressure/) from gravity. - -Consider a spherical droplet of liquid with radius $$R$$. -The hydrostatic pressure difference -between the top and bottom of the drop -is much smaller than the Laplace pressure: - -$$\begin{aligned} - 2 R \rho g \ll 2 \frac{\alpha}{R} -\end{aligned}$$ - -Where $$\rho$$ is the density of the liquid, -$$g$$ is the acceleration due to gravity, -and $$\alpha$$ is the energy cost per unit surface area. -Rearranging the inequality yields: - -$$\begin{aligned} - R^2 \ll \frac{\alpha}{\rho g} -\end{aligned}$$ - -From the right-hand side we define the **capillary length** $$L_c$$, -so gravity is negligible if $$R \ll L_c$$: - -$$\begin{aligned} - \boxed{ - L_c - \equiv \sqrt{\frac{\alpha}{\rho g}} - } -\end{aligned}$$ - -In general, for a system with characteristic length $$L$$, -the relative strength of gravity compared to surface tension -is described by the **Bond number** $$\mathrm{Bo}$$ -or **Eötvös number** $$\mathrm{Eo}$$: - -$$\begin{aligned} - \boxed{ - \mathrm{Bo} - \equiv \mathrm{Eo} - \equiv \frac{L^2}{L_c^2} - = \frac{m g}{\alpha L} - } -\end{aligned}$$ - -The rightmost side gives an alternative way of understanding $$\mathrm{Bo}$$: -$$m$$ is the mass of a cube with side $$L$$, such that the numerator is the weight force, -and the denominator is the tension force of the surface. -In any case, capillary action can be observed when $$\mathrm{Bo \ll 1}$$. - -The most famous example of capillary action is **capillary rise**, -where a liquid "climbs" upwards in a narrow vertical tube with radius $$R$$, -apparently defying gravity. -Assuming the liquid-air interface is a spherical cap -with constant [curvature](/know/concept/curvature/) radius $$R_c$$, -then we know that the liquid is at rest -when the hydrostatic pressure equals the Laplace pressure: - -$$\begin{aligned} - \rho g h - \approx \alpha \frac{2}{R_c} - = 2 \alpha \frac{\cos\theta}{R} -\end{aligned}$$ - -Where $$\theta$$ is the liquid-tube contact angle, -and we are neglecting variations of the height $$h$$ due to the curvature -(i.e. the [meniscus](/know/concept/meniscus/)). -By isolating the above equation for $$h$$, -we arrive at **Jurin's law**, -which predicts the height climbed by a liquid in a tube with radius $$R$$: - -$$\begin{aligned} - \boxed{ - h - = 2 \frac{L_c^2}{R} \cos\theta - } -\end{aligned}$$ - -Depending on $$\theta$$, $$h$$ can be negative, -i.e. the liquid might descend below the ambient level. - - -An alternative derivation of Jurin's law balances the forces instead of the pressures. -On the right, we have the gravitational force -(i.e. the energy-per-distance to lift the liquid), -and on the left, the surface tension force -(i.e. the energy-per-distance of the liquid-tube interface): - -$$\begin{aligned} - \pi R^2 \rho g h - \approx 2 \pi R (\alpha_{sg} - \alpha_{sl}) -\end{aligned}$$ - -Where $$\alpha_{sg}$$ and $$\alpha_{sl}$$ are the energy costs -of the solid-gas and solid-liquid interfaces. -Thanks to the [Young-Dupré relation](/know/concept/young-dupre-relation/), -we can rewrite this as follows: - -$$\begin{aligned} - R \rho g h - = 2 \alpha \cos\theta -\end{aligned}$$ - -Isolating this for $$h$$ simply yields Jurin's law again, as expected. - - - -## References -1. B. Lautrup, - *Physics of continuous matter: exotic and everyday phenomena in the macroscopic world*, 2nd edition, - CRC Press. |