Capillarity or capillary action is the ability of a narrow tube to draw a liquid upwards against the force of

gravity.

The height of liquid in a tube due to capillarity can be expressed as

h = 2 cos / ( g r) (1)

where

h = height of liquid (ft, m)

= surface tension (lb/ft, N/m)

= contact angle

= density of liquid (lb/ft3, kg/m3)

g = acceleration due to gravity (32.174 ft/s2, 9.81 m/s2)

r = radius of tube (ft, m)

Surface Tension: Surface tension is typically measured in dynes/cm or N/m.

Surface Tension
Liquid
N/m dynes/cm

Ethyl Alcohol 0.0223 22.3

Mercury 0.465 465

Water 20oC 0.0728 72.75

Water 100oC 0.0599 58.9