Capillary action is a very cool science phenomenon that is essential for all life on earth! Capillary rise in small tubes is a familiar phenomenon that most of us have seen. But why is it that water rises higher in thin tubes than in thick tubes? Let's explore the physics and effects of the Capillary force. what is the capillary force? Capillary action occurs because water is sticky, thanks to the forces of cohesion (water molecules like to stay close together) and adhesion (water molecules are attracted and stick to other substances). Science is Awesome, now go out and do some!

00:00 Intro to capillary action
00:19 Definition of terms for the capillary force
01:38 Testing the capillary tube set.
03:10 Discussing the correlation between boiling temperature and pressure
03:58 How do trees use capillary action if they are taller than 30 feet?

A few more terms to consider if you are looking for more information. Adhesion of water to the walls of a vessel will cause an upward force on the liquid at the edges and result in a meniscus which turns upward. The surface tension acts to hold the surface intact. Capillary action occurs when the adhesion to the walls is stronger than the cohesive forces between the liquid molecules. The height to which capillary action will take water in a uniform circular tube is limited by surface tension and gravity.

Veritasium Video on Trees:    • How Trees Bend the Laws of Physics