Question:medium

A liquid rises to a height of $4 \text{ cm}$ in a capillary tube of radius $r$. If another capillary tube of radius $r/2$ is dipped in the same liquid, the height of liquid rise will be

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Remember, for a given liquid and contact angle, the height of the liquid rise in a capillary tube is inversely proportional to its radius.
Updated On: Jun 3, 2026
  • $8 \text{ cm}$
  • $2 \text{ cm}$
  • $4 \text{ cm}$
  • $16 \text{ cm}$
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The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Recall capillary rise.
The height a liquid climbs inside a thin tube is \[ h = \frac{2T\cos\theta}{\rho g r} \] where $T$ is surface tension, $\theta$ is the contact angle, $\rho$ is density, $g$ is gravity, and $r$ is the tube radius.

Step 2: See the key link.
Everything except the radius stays the same here, since it is the same liquid. So the height depends only on the radius. \[ h \propto \frac{1}{r} \] A thinner tube lifts the liquid higher.

Step 3: Write the first case.
In the first tube of radius $r$, the rise is $4$ cm. \[ h_1 = \frac{2T\cos\theta}{\rho g r} = 4 \text{ cm} \]

Step 4: Write the second case.
The second tube has radius $r/2$. Putting this in, \[ h_2 = \frac{2T\cos\theta}{\rho g (r/2)} = 2\cdot\frac{2T\cos\theta}{\rho g r} = 2 h_1 \]

Step 5: Find the new height.
Since $h_1 = 4$ cm, \[ h_2 = 2\times 4 = 8 \text{ cm} \]

Step 6: State the answer.
Halving the radius doubles the rise. \[ \boxed{h_2 = 8 \text{ cm}} \]
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