Kapillaarse

Kapillaarse refers to phenomena related to capillaries, which are very narrow tubes or channels. In physics and fluid mechanics, capillary action, or capillarity, describes the ability of a liquid to flow in narrow spaces without the assistance of, or even in opposition to, external forces like gravity. This occurs due to intermolecular forces between the liquid and the surrounding solid surfaces.

The key forces involved are adhesion and cohesion. Adhesion is the attraction between molecules of different substances, in this case, the liquid and the capillary walls. Cohesion is the attraction between molecules of the same substance, i.e., the liquid itself. If the adhesive forces are stronger than the cohesive forces, the liquid will "wet" the surface and be drawn upwards into the capillary. Conversely, if cohesive forces dominate, the liquid may form a meniscus that curves downwards, and capillary action will be less pronounced or absent.

The height to which a liquid rises in a capillary tube is inversely proportional to the radius of the tube. Smaller radii lead to greater capillary rise. This principle is significant in various natural and industrial processes. For example, it explains how water is transported from the roots to the leaves of plants, how ink is drawn into the tip of a pen, and how oil wicks can draw fuel upwards. In materials science, understanding capillarity is crucial for processes like impregnation and fluid transport in porous media. The term "kapillaarse" thus encompasses the underlying physical principles and the observable effects of these narrow channels.