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Next: Axisymmetric SoapBubbles Up: Surface Tension Previous: Jurin's Law
Capillary Curves
Let adopt Cartesian coordinates on the Earth's surface such that increases vertically upward. Suppose that the
interface of a liquid of density and surface tension with the atmosphere corresponds to the surface
, where the liquid occupies the region . The shape of the interface is assumed to be
independent. The unit normal to the interface (directed from liquid to air) is thus
(3.25)
where . Hence, the mean curvature of the interface is (Riley 1974)
(3.26)
where . According to Equations (3.15) and (3.16), the shape of the interface is governed by
the nonlinear differential equation
(3.27)
where the vertical height, , of the interface is measured relative to its equilibrium height in the absence of
(3.28)
where is a constant. It follows that
(3.29)
and
(3.30)
Figure: Capillary curves for and (in
Let
(3.31)
where , and
(3.32)
Thus, from Equations (3.31) and (3.32),
(3.33)
and so the constraint (3.29) implies that . Moreover, Equations (3.30) and (3.33) reduce to
(3.34)
It follows from Equations (3.32) and (3.34) that
(3.35)
which can be integrated to give
(3.36)
(3.37)
where
(3.38)
(3.39)
and
(3.40)
(3.41)
are types of incomplete elliptic integral (Abramowitz and Stegun 1965). In conclusion, the interface shape is
determined parametrically by
(3.42)
(3.43)
Figure: Liquid/air interface for a liquid trapped between
two vertical parallel plates located at . The
contact angle of the interface with the plates is .
Figure 3.4 shows the capillary curves predicted by Equations (3.42) and (3.43) for various different values of
. Here, we have chosen the plus sign in Equation (3.43). However, if the minus sign is chosen then the curves are
simply inverted: that is, and . In can be seen that all of the curves shown in the figure are
of contact is acute, we expect the liquid to be drawn upward between the plates, and the interface to be concave
(from above). This corresponds to the positive sign in Equation (3.43). In order for the interface to meet the
plates at the correct angle, we require at and at .
However, if one of these boundary conditions is satisfied then, by symmetry, the other is automatically satisfied.
From Equation (3.34) (choosing the positive sign), the latter boundary condition yields
Consider the limit , which is such that the distance between the two plates is much less than the
capillary length. It is easily demonstrated that, at small (Abramowitz and Stegun 1965)
(3.44)
(3.45)
where . Thus, Equations (3.42) and (3.43) reduce to
(3.46)
(3.47)
It follows that the interface is a segment of the curved surface of a cylinder whose axis runs parallel to the
(3.48)
Thus, the height that the liquid rises between the two platesthat is,
is given by
(3.49)
This result is the form taken by Jurin's law, (3.23), for a liquid drawn up between two parallel plates of spacing
.
Figure: Liquid/air interface for a liquid in contact with a
vertical plate located at . The contact angle of the
interface with the plate is .
Consider the case , which is such that the distance between the two plates is infinite. Let the
leftmost plate lie at , and let us completely neglect the rightmost plate, because it lies at infinity.
Suppose that is the height of the interface above the free surface of the liquid at the point
where the interface meets the leftmost plate. If is the angle of contact of the interface with the plate then we
require at . Because , it follows from Equation (3.28) that
(3.50)
or
(3.51)
Furthermore, again recalling that , Equation (3.30) can be integrated to give
(3.52)
(3.53)
which reduces to
(3.54)
because . Thus, Equations (3.51) and (3.54) specify the shape of a
liquid/air interface that meets an isolated vertical plate at . In particular, Equation (3.51) gives the height
that the interface climbs up the plate (relative to the free surface) due to the action of surface tension. Note that
this height is restricted to lie in the range , irrespective of the angle of contact. Figure 3.6
shows an example interface calculated for .
Next: Axisymmetric SoapBubbles Up: Surface Tension Previous: Jurin's Law
Richard Fitzpatrick 20160331