Surface Tension And Capillary Action

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| By Rhaveno
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Surface Tension And Capillary Action - Quiz

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Questions and Answers
  • 1. 

    Identify the property of water that allows a water strider insect to walk on the water.

    • A.

      Surface Tension

    • B.

      Polarity

    • C.

      Capillary Action

    • D.

      Specific Heat

    Correct Answer
    A. Surface Tension
    Explanation
    Surface tension is the property of water that allows a water strider insect to walk on the water. Surface tension is the cohesive force between water molecules at the surface, which creates a "skin" on the water's surface. This "skin" allows the water strider's small and lightweight body to distribute its weight over a larger area, preventing it from breaking the surface tension and sinking into the water.

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  • 2. 

    What is adhesion?

    • A.

      Waters ability to stick to other materials

    • B.

      Waters ability to stick to itself

    • C.

      Covalent bonds in water

    • D.

      Capillary Action

    Correct Answer
    A. Waters ability to stick to other materials
    Explanation
    Adhesion refers to the ability of water to stick to other materials. This property is due to the hydrogen bonding between water molecules and the molecules of other substances. It allows water to cling to surfaces, such as the walls of a glass or the petals of a flower. Adhesion is responsible for phenomena like capillary action, where water can climb up a narrow tube against the force of gravity.

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  • 3. 

    Identify the force that explains why water forms drops.

    • A.

      Cohesion causes surface tension

    • B.

      Polarity

    • C.

      Capillary action

    • D.

      Specific heat

    • E.

      Adhesion 

    Correct Answer
    A. Cohesion causes surface tension
    Explanation
    Cohesion is the force that causes water molecules to stick together, creating surface tension. This cohesive force allows water to form drops, as the molecules at the surface of the drop are pulled inward, creating a spherical shape. Surface tension is the result of the cohesive forces between water molecules, which are stronger than the adhesive forces between water and other surfaces. Therefore, cohesion causing surface tension is the force that explains why water forms drops.

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  • 4. 

    Identify the property of water represented in this diagram:

    • A.

      Capillary Action

    • B.

      Polarity

    • C.

      Universal solvency

    • D.

      Surface tension

    Correct Answer
    A. Capillary Action
    Explanation
    Capillary action is the property of water represented in the diagram. Capillary action is the ability of a liquid to flow against gravity in a narrow space, such as a thin tube or a porous material, due to the cohesive forces between the liquid molecules. Water molecules have strong cohesive forces, which allow them to climb up narrow tubes or be absorbed by porous materials. This property is important in various biological processes, such as the movement of water in plants and the ability of water to move through small blood vessels.

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  • 5. 

    A meniscus formed in a graduated cylinder is caused by and an example of what force?

    • A.

      Adhesion

    • B.

      Cohesion

    • C.

      Surface Tension

    • D.

      Capillary Action

    Correct Answer
    A. Adhesion
    Explanation
    The meniscus formed in a graduated cylinder is caused by adhesion. Adhesion is the force of attraction between different substances. In this case, the water molecules are attracted to the glass walls of the graduated cylinder, causing the water level to curve upwards at the edges, creating a meniscus.

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  • 6. 

    Identify which property of water allows water to move against gravity.

    • A.

      Capillary Action allows water to move against gravity.

    • B.

      Surface tension allows water to move against gravity.

    • C.

      Cohesion allows water to move against gravity.

    • D.

      Universal solvency allows water to move against gravity.

    Correct Answer
    A. Capillary Action allows water to move against gravity.
    Explanation
    Capillary action is the phenomenon where water is able to move against gravity in narrow spaces, such as in a capillary tube or through the tiny spaces between soil particles. This is due to the cohesive forces between water molecules and the adhesive forces between water molecules and the walls of the narrow spaces. These combined forces create a capillary force that pulls the water upwards, allowing it to move against gravity. Surface tension, cohesion, and universal solvency are not properties that specifically allow water to move against gravity.

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  • 7. 

    What is wicking?

    • A.

      A material that pulls moisture through by capillary action

    • B.

      Adhesion of water

    • C.

      Cohesion of water

    • D.

      Capillary Action of water

    Correct Answer
    A. A material that pulls moisture through by capillary action
    Explanation
    Wicking refers to the process in which a material is able to pull moisture through it by capillary action. Capillary action is the ability of a liquid to flow in narrow spaces against the force of gravity. In the context of wicking, the material's structure allows it to draw moisture from one area to another, typically from a wetter to a drier area. This is possible due to the cohesive and adhesive properties of water, which enable it to be drawn into narrow spaces and move against gravity.

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  • 8. 

    Water molecules attract each other.  Attraction between similar molecules is referred to as: 

    • A.

      Cohesion

    • B.

      Adhesion

    • C.

      Hydrophilic

    • D.

      Hydrophobic

    Correct Answer
    A. Cohesion
    Explanation
    Water molecules have a strong attraction to each other due to hydrogen bonding. This attraction causes water molecules to stick together, forming hydrogen bonds between them. This phenomenon is known as cohesion. Cohesion is responsible for the surface tension of water and allows water to be drawn up through narrow tubes, such as the xylem vessels in plants.

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  • 9. 

    Water molecules attract other types of molecules. Attraction between different types of molecules is referred to as: 

    • A.

      Cohesion

    • B.

      Adhesion

    • C.

      Hydrophilic

    • D.

      Hydrophobic

    Correct Answer
    B. Adhesion
    Explanation
    Adhesion refers to the attraction between different types of molecules. In this case, water molecules attract other types of molecules. This can be observed, for example, when water adheres to the surface of a glass or when it sticks to the surface of a leaf. Adhesion is an important property of water that allows it to interact with and bond to other substances, making it essential for various biological and physical processes.

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  • 10. 

    Which type of bond connects water to water molecules?

    • A.

      Ionic

    • B.

      Polar covalent

    • C.

      Non-polar covalent

    • D.

      Hydrogen

    Correct Answer
    D. Hydrogen
    Explanation
    Hydrogen bonds connect water molecules to each other. In a water molecule, the oxygen atom is slightly negatively charged, while the hydrogen atoms are slightly positively charged. This creates an electrostatic attraction between the oxygen of one water molecule and the hydrogen of another water molecule. These hydrogen bonds are relatively weak compared to covalent or ionic bonds, but they are strong enough to give water its unique properties such as high boiling point, surface tension, and the ability to dissolve many substances.

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  • 11. 

    Within a water molecule, which type of bond connects oxygen to hydrogen atoms?

    • A.

      Polar covalent

    • B.

      Ionic

    • C.

      Non-polar covalent 

    • D.

      Hydrogen

    Correct Answer
    A. Polar covalent
    Explanation
    A water molecule consists of one oxygen atom and two hydrogen atoms. In a polar covalent bond, the oxygen atom attracts the shared electrons more strongly than the hydrogen atoms, creating a partial negative charge on the oxygen atom and partial positive charges on the hydrogen atoms. This unequal sharing of electrons results in a polar molecule, with the oxygen atom being slightly negative and the hydrogen atoms being slightly positive. Therefore, the correct answer is polar covalent, as it accurately describes the bond between the oxygen and hydrogen atoms in a water molecule.

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  • 12. 

    Water rises in trees through small tubes called xylem.  This is because of 

    • A.

      Both cohesion and adhesion

    • B.

      Adhesion

    • C.

      Cohesion

    • D.

      Fluid dynamics

    Correct Answer
    A. Both cohesion and adhesion
    Explanation
    Water rises in trees through small tubes called xylem due to both cohesion and adhesion. Cohesion refers to the attraction between water molecules, causing them to stick together. Adhesion refers to the attraction between water molecules and the walls of the xylem tubes. Both cohesion and adhesion work together to allow water to move upwards against gravity in the xylem, creating a continuous flow of water from the roots to the leaves of the tree. This phenomenon is known as capillary action.

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  • 13. 

    What is a soap bubble?

    • A.

      A bubble of soap is made of a thin film of soapy water enclosing air that forms a empty sphere with an iridescent surface.

    • B.

      A bubble is an iridescent surfaced sphere made of soap.

    • C.

      A bubble is an empty sphere filled with soap.

    • D.

      A bubble is an empty film of soap.

    Correct Answer
    A. A bubble of soap is made of a thin film of soapy water enclosing air that forms a empty sphere with an iridescent surface.
    Explanation
    A soap bubble is formed by a thin film of soapy water that surrounds and encloses air, creating an empty sphere. The surface of the bubble appears iridescent.

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  • 14. 

    Why do bubbles form a spherical shape?

    • A.

      Liquids like minimal surface area and a sphere has the most volume for the least surface area.

    • B.

      Bubbles form a sphere because a sphere has the least volume for the greatest surface area.

    • C.

      Bubbles form a spherical shape because liquids like a minimal surface area.

    • D.

      Bubbles form a spherical shape to match the shape of the wand.

    Correct Answer
    A. Liquids like minimal surface area and a sphere has the most volume for the least surface area.
    Explanation
    Liquids like minimal surface area because it reduces the energy required to maintain the shape. A sphere has the most volume for the least surface area, making it the most efficient shape for a bubble to form. This is why bubbles tend to take on a spherical shape.

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  • Current Version
  • Mar 20, 2023
    Quiz Edited by
    ProProfs Editorial Team
  • Sep 27, 2016
    Quiz Created by
    Rhaveno
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