kapillárcsbe

The term "kapillárcső" is a Hungarian word that translates to "capillary tube" in English. Capillary tubes are a type of tube with a very small internal diameter, often referred to as a bore. The small diameter is crucial to their function, as it allows for phenomena related to capillary action to be observed and utilized.

Capillary action is the ability of a liquid to flow in narrow spaces without the assistance of, or even in opposition to, external forces like gravity. This phenomenon is a result of surface tension, adhesive forces between the liquid and the tube walls, and cohesive forces within the liquid itself. When the adhesive forces are stronger than the cohesive forces, the liquid will "wet" the surface and rise up the tube. Conversely, if cohesive forces dominate, the liquid level might be depressed.

Capillary tubes have various applications across different fields. In science and engineering, they are used in instruments such as thermometers, manometers, and in laboratory techniques like chromatography. They are also important in understanding biological processes, for example, how water is transported in plants through xylem vessels, which function as natural capillary tubes. In everyday life, a common example is the wick in a candle, which draws melted wax up to the flame through capillary action. The width of the capillary tube directly influences the height to which a liquid will rise or fall due to capillary forces.