Capillary action is the movement of water up a narrow tube or tiny space. This occurs when the adhesion of water to the particles around is greater than cohesion between them.
Adhesion is the force of attraction between two different particles.
Cohesion is the attractive forces between the same particles.
In capillary action, water is able to rise against the force of gravity pulling it to the center.
This owes much to the attraction between water and the tiny space in pores pulling it upward.
Roots obtain their water by capillary action.
Within the tiny pores, water moves upward by adhesion.
