Quick Answer: The Capillary Vessels apparatus is a set of narrow capillary tubes in a stand for showing capillary rise, surface tension, adhesion and cohesion. When the lower ends are dipped in liquid, it rises inside the tubes, higher in narrower ones.
Last updated: October 2026
Key Features
Narrow capillary vessels held in a support stand
Lower ends dip into a liquid container
Liquid rises inside the tubes by capillary action
Height of rise compared between tubes
About This Product
Students dip the tubes into clean or coloured water, let the liquid rise and compare the heights reached, which shows that the rise is greater in narrower tubes. The results are used to explain surface tension, adhesion, cohesion and the meniscus, and everyday cases such as water moving up plant stems and through soil. Enquiries from New Zealand, Bahrain, Burundi, Peru, Lesotho and Colombia for the Capillary vessels receive an export quotation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does liquid rise higher in narrower capillary tubes?
Surface tension and adhesion between the liquid and the tube wall pull the liquid up, and in a narrower tube this lift acts on a smaller column, so it rises higher.
