Question

What three forces contribute to the rise of water in a capillary tube?

Answer 1

These three forces are cohesive force, adhesive force and surface tension. The cohesive and adhesive forces are opposite of each other. While cohesive force is the intermolecular bonding between like molecules, the adhesive force is the intermolecular force between unlike molecules. Surface tension is perceived to be the force exerted by the liquid near the surface of the water. Together, these forces bring about an increase in liquid height when a very small tube is placed on a wide surface liquid.