Capillarity: meaning, definitions and examples
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capillarity
[ kəˌpɪl.əˈrɪt.i ]
physical phenomenon
Capillarity refers to the ability of a liquid to flow in narrow spaces without the assistance of external forces, such as gravity. This phenomenon occurs due to the adhesive forces between the liquid and the surrounding solid surface, combined with the cohesive forces within the liquid. Capillarity is significant in various natural processes, including water transport in plants and the behavior of liquids in porous materials.
Synonyms
adhesion, capillary action, wetting.
Examples of usage
- Water rises in a thin tube due to capillarity.
- Capillarity allows plants to absorb water from the soil.
- The ink spreads on paper due to capillarity.
Translations
Translations of the word "capillarity" in other languages:
🇵🇹 capilaridade
🇮🇳 तंतुता
🇩🇪 Kapillarität
🇮🇩 kapilaritas
🇺🇦 капілярність
🇵🇱 kapilarnosc
🇯🇵 毛細管現象
🇫🇷 capillarité
🇪🇸 capilaridad
🇹🇷 kapilarite
🇰🇷 모세관 현상
🇸🇦 الخواص الشعرية
🇨🇿 kapilární jev
🇸🇰 kapilárny jav
🇨🇳 毛细现象
🇸🇮 kapilariteta
🇮🇸 æðarhreyfing
🇰🇿 капиллярлық
🇬🇪 კაპილარობა
🇦🇿 kapilyar
🇲🇽 capilaridad
Etymology
The term 'capillarity' derives from the Latin word 'capillaris', meaning 'hair-like'. This is indicative of the narrow tubes through which capillary action occurs, reminiscent of the tiny size of human hair. The study of capillarity became prominent in the 19th century as researchers like Thomas Young and Gabriel Stokes explored the principles of fluid mechanics. Understanding capillarity has been crucial in fields such as biology, physics, and engineering, highlighting its importance in everyday phenomena such as how plants transport water and nutrients from the soil to their leaves.