Define surface tension and capillarity with sketch. Give practical example of each.
Surface tension: The property of liquid which enables it to resist tensile stress is called surface tension .In the following figure we can see the surface tension between water and air also between mercury and air.
Practical Example: i) Due to surface tension shape of liquid drop is not spherical. ii) Capillary rise or fall of liquid in a smaller diameter tube.
Capillarity: It is defined as the phenomenon of rise or fall of liquid surface in small tube relative to the adjacent general level of liquid when the tube is held vertically in the liquid. Following figure shows capillary rise and fall.
Practical Example: i) Rise of ground water in the bushes. ii) Water moving up a straw when deep in water glass.