capillary action
Fluid defies gravity
Capillary action is the movement of liquid through narrow spaces without external force, driven by the liquid's surface tension and its attraction to surrounding surfaces.
Water climbs up a thin glass tube, ink spreads through paper, and plant roots draw moisture from soil—all through capillary action.
The narrower the space, the stronger the effect.
Cohesive force at liquid interfaces
- wettingAdding moisture to
- meniscusCurved liquid surface
- hydrophilicTending to absorb water
- hydrophobicRepels aqueous substances
wettability · spreadability · adsorption · affinity · water-loving · oleophobic
Cohesive force at liquid interfaces
- hydrogen bondingIntermolecular dipole attraction
- meniscusCurved liquid surface
- water dropletsMinute liquid spheres
- van der WaalsWeak intermolecular attractive force
Water in ground
- groundwaterWater in underground rock
- sandFine rock particles
- clayMoldable earth for ceramics
- concreteSolid building mixture
brick · saturation · permeability · porosity · aquifer · water table · rising damp · masonry
Plant water conduit
- transpirationBotanical water vapor release
- water transportMovement via waterways
- vascular tissuePlant's internal transport network
- rootsUnderground nutrient absorbers
stem · leaves · evapotranspiration · phloem · stomata · tree height · sequoia · redwood
Able to soak up
- wickFuel-drawing cord
- candleWax stick with wick
- fabricWoven or knit material
- towelAbsorbent fabric for drying
sponge · paper towel · napkin · textile · moisture-wicking · athletic wear · diaper · cotton
Miniaturized diagnostic analysis platform
- lateral flow testQuick capillary diagnostic strip
- pregnancy testTool confirming conception
- fountain penInk-reservoir writing instrument
- blood drawExtracting blood for testing
surface tension
Cohesive force at liquid interfaces
- wettingAdding moisture to
- meniscusCurved liquid surface
- hydrophilicTending to absorb water
hydrophobic · wettability · spreadability · adsorption · affinity · water-loving · oleophobic
surface tension
Cohesive force at liquid interfaces
- hydrogen bondingIntermolecular dipole attraction
- meniscusCurved liquid surface
- water dropletsMinute liquid spheres
soil moisture
Water in ground
- groundwaterWater in underground rock
- sandFine rock particles
- clayMoldable earth for ceramics
concrete · brick · saturation · permeability · porosity · aquifer · water table · rising damp · masonry · absorption
xylem
Plant water conduit
- transpirationBotanical water vapor release
- water transportMovement via waterways
- vascular tissuePlant's internal transport network
roots · stem · leaves · evapotranspiration · phloem · stomata · tree height · sequoia · redwood
absorbent
Able to soak up
towel · sponge · paper towel · napkin · textile · moisture-wicking · athletic wear · diaper · cotton · microfiber
lab-on-a-chip
Miniaturized diagnostic analysis platform
- lateral flow testQuick capillary diagnostic strip
- pregnancy testTool confirming conception
- fountain penInk-reservoir writing instrument
- soil hydrologypercolation, seepage, permeability, porosity, soil moisture
- physical phenomenadiffusion, collision, friction, explosion, surface tension
- water processesevaporation, condensation, precipitation, infiltration, percolation
- soil sciencesoil, topsoil, subsoil, clay, sand
- nanophysicsquantum dots, nanowires, nanotubes, nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes
- physicsphysics, momentum, atom, acceleration, gravity
capillary actionpumping
Forcing flow mechanically
siphoning · hydraulic pressure · turbulent flow · suction · vacuum extraction
capillary actionfree fall
Unimpeded gravitational descent
percolation · draining · runoff · descent · gravitational pull