‫👑 ‪👑 Al-Turath University College‬‬

‫‪Department of Medical Device Engineering Technology‬‬

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‫‪Lab Report‬‬
‫‪Analyzing Surface Tension through Capillary Rise‬‬

‫ابو الحسنين ميثاق سليم خير الله ‪‬‬

‫احمد علي عبد جبر ‪‬‬

‫اسراء عبد االمير عبد مطشر ‪‬‬

‫امين وليد فاضل سبع ‪‬‬

‫آيات حسين علي زغير ‪‬‬

‫بسمة سهيل نجم عبود ‪‬‬

‫تميم احمد باسم محمود ‪‬‬

‫حاتم عبد الكريم جبير محمود ‪‬‬

‫حسن رعد عزيز حميد ‪‬‬

‫حسين جون عطية جميل ‪‬‬

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📄 Table of Contents

1. Executive Summary ...................................................... 1

2. Introduction .................................................................. 2

3. Review of Existing Research .................................... 3

4. Experimental Approach ............................................. 4

5. Observational Data ...................................................... 5

6. Analytical Discussion .................................................. 6

7. Summary of Findings ................................................ 7

8. Recommendations ..................................................... 8

9. Bibliography ................................................................... 9

1. Executive Summary

This report investigates the surface tension of water using the capillary rise method, a classic
technique in medical physics. By immersing capillary tubes of varying internal radii into water
and measuring the rise in water level, The calculated surface tensions mean value was 0.0720
N/m at 25°C, which aligns closely with accepted literature values.

2. Introduction

In liquids, molecules at the surface experience unequal forces, leading to what’s known as
surface tension—a property responsible for the curvature of water droplets and the behavior of
liquids in confined spaces. This tension is particularly evident in capillary action, where water
climbs the walls of narrow tubes, apparently against gravity.

This physical behavior isn't just observable—it’s quantifiable. The height to which water rises
in a capillary tube is governed by an equation that relates this rise to the tube’s internal radius,
gravity, and the liquid's density (Munson et al., 2013). By collecting accurate measurements of
water height in capillary tubes of known radius, one can calculate water's surface tension.

While capillary rise may seem like a basic fluid experiment, its significance extends into
medical physics. In human lungs, alveoli are stabilized by surfactants that lower surface tension,
allowing for efficient gas exchange (Levitzky, 2020). Additionally, the principles behind
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capillary behavior inform the design of microfluidic systems in diagnostics and drug delivery,
where passive liquid movement is essential.

3. Review of Existing Research

Capillarity has been the subject of study since the 18th century, but it remains deeply relevant.
The foundational theory rests on the balance of surface tension and gravitational force, as
originally derived by Jurin and formalized by Laplace (de Gennes et al., 2010). Munson et al.
(2013) note that the capillary rise method remains one of the simplest and most direct
techniques for surface tension estimation, especially for transparent liquids in clean glass tubes.

In physiology, surface tension is responsible for both helpful and harmful lung behavior.
According to Levitzky (2020), the alveolar surface tension must be finely tuned to prevent
either collapse or overexpansion. This regulation is achieved through naturally occurring
surfactants.

4. Experimental Approach

To estimate surface tension, the experiment followed these steps:

1. Selection of Equipment
Three cylindrical capillary tubes, each with a different internal diameter, were cleaned
using distilled water to remove residual oils or particles.

2. Setup
A beaker of water was placed on a stable surface. Each capillary tube was individually
immersed vertically in the water, ensuring the lower tip was submerged without touching
the beaker's bottom.

3. Measurement
A traveling microscope was used to measure the vertical distance from the water level in
the beaker to the top of the water column inside the capillary tube—this is the capillary
rise height (h).

4. Tube Radius Determination

The internal diameters of the tubes were measured using the same microscope, and
converted to radius (r) in meters.

5. Calculation
The surface tension (γ) was calculated using:

γ=0.5*ρgrh

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Where:

o ρ = water density (1000 kg/m³)

o g = gravitational acceleration (9.8 m/s²)

o r = internal radius of the tube (m)

o h = measured height of water inside the tube (m)

5. Observational Data

The recorded values from each capillary tube are presented below.

Tube Radius r Height h (mm) Surface Tension γ (N/m)

(mm)

Tube 1 0.40 37.0 0.07252

Tube 2 0.50 29.6 0.0725

Tube 3 0.60 24.1 0.07083

Mean 0.072

6. Analytical Discussion

The data reflect a consistent trend: the narrower the capillary, the higher the water climbed.
This is expected due to the inverse proportionality between tube radius and rise height in the
capillary rise equation. Tube 1, with the smallest radius, yielded the highest water column,
while Tube 3, the widest, showed the least rise.Despite varying dimensions, the calculated
surface tension values for all three tubes are consistent, ranging from 0.07083 to 0.07252 N/m,
with a mean of 0.07196 N/m. This small variation suggests good experimental precision and
validates the reliability of the capillary rise method.The consistency of these values with the
known standard (≈0.072 N/m at 25°C)

7. Discussion Questions & Answers

1. What is the reason for the rise of water in the capillary tubes? And if the water is replaced
by mercury, what happens? Why?
The rise of water in capillary tubes is due to adhesive forces between water and glass
being stronger than cohesive forces among water molecules, pulling water upward.

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 If replaced with mercury, the liquid would depress instead of rise because cohesive forces
in mercury exceed adhesion to glass, and mercury forms a convex meniscus.

2. What is the effect of each of the following on surface tension: length of the capillary tube
and temperature?

o Length of the capillary tube has no effect on surface tension; only radius and
height matter in the equation.

o Temperature increase reduces surface tension, as thermal agitation weakens

molecular cohesion at the surface.

3. What is the relation between radius of capillary tube and height of liquid?

They are inversely proportional.A smaller radius leads to a higher liquid column, as the
same surface tension supports a taller column in narrower tubes.

4. What is the application of surface tension in medicine?

o Pulmonary function: Surfactants in alveoli reduce surface tension to prevent lung

collapse.

o Drug delivery: Surface tension governs droplet formation in inhalers or nebulizers.

8. Recommendations

To improve accuracy and reliability, it is recommended to use more capillary tubes of

varying radii and ensure consistent temperature control during the experiment. Future
studies could explore surface tension in biological fluids to enhance the relevance of
findings in medical applications.

9. Bibliography

 de Gennes, P. G., Brochard-Wyart, F., & Quéré, D. (2010). Capillarity and Wetting
Phenomena: Drops, Bubbles, Pearls, Waves. Springer.

 Haeberle, S., & Zengerle, R. (2019). “Microfluidic platforms for diagnostics.” Annual
Review of Analytical Chemistry, 12, 145–167.

 Levitzky, M. G. (2020). Pulmonary Physiology (9th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.

 Munson, B. R., Young, D. F., & Okiishi, T. H. (2013). Fundamentals of Fluid Mechanics
(7th ed.). Wiley.

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 Young, H. D., & Freedman, R. A. (2021). University Physics with Modern Physics (15th
ed.). Pearson.