Question

Using data from the diagram below, calculate the ratio of the height to which water at 0°C and mercury are raised or suppressed by capillary action in the same glass tube (use density and
surface tension values of water that are accurate to at least 3 significant figures for your calculation. Include the appropriate sign with your answer.)
water
mercury

Answer 1

Due to stronger cohesive than adhesive forces mercury levels falls in a capillary tube. However, water level rises in a capillary tube due to greater adhesive than cohesive forces.

What is capillary action?

Capillary action refers to the rise or fall of a liquid in a narrow tube.

The height to which a liquid is depressed or rises in a narrow tube depends on the strength of the cohesive forces of the molecules of the fluid compared to the adhesive forces between the molecules of the fluid and the walls of the tube.

In water, the adhesive forces between the walls of the tube and water molecules is greater than the cohesive forces between water molecules, hence water rises in a capillary tube.

In mercury the adhesive forces between the walls of the tube and water molecules is less than the cohesive forces between mercury molecules, hence mercury levels falls in a capillary tube.

Learn more about capillary action at: https://brainly.com/question/14451466