Capillary experiment
Making a capillary action demo: You will Require:
Four microscope slides, two elastic bands, pencil, glass cutter and epoxy adhesive such as "ARALDITE".
Step 1:
Cut one strip from a microscope slide - slightly wider than the pencil thickness with the glass cutter. (This is not absolutely necessary, if you want to leave part of the pencil in stead of having a glass end then cut the pencil to the width of the slides).
Step 2:
Wrap an elastic band around two of the microscope slides.
Step 3:
Insert the pencil between the two slides toward one end.
Step 4:
If you are going to use a glass end place the glass strip that you cut at the same end as the pencil but between the elastic bands so that is held against the two microscope slide ends. You may need to move the pencil to get a good fit.
Step 5:
Put another elastic band to hold the “V” shape that you have created onto the final microscope slide base. Position so that the V is central.
Step 6:
Use the epoxy adhesive on all glass joints. You should only glue the outside edges. You may need to reapply when set if there are any leaks. Be liberal with the adhesive! If using a pencil- glue the pencil to the glass as well.
Step 7: when set, remove the elastic bands. Check for leaks.
Operation:
Place coloured water in the centre of the V. At the end the water will form an arc through capillary action.
For a quick method to obtain the final curve the liquid can be rocked back and forth before being left to view.
--D.B.Ferguson 19:38, 25 July 2007 (BST)
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