Stupid ME - Meniscus

"G&G" asked...............

Meniscus, in effect does not float.

(1) It is the curved surface tension of the liquid in any container, or (2) The shape assumed by the surface of a liquid in a cylindrical container, or (3) Meniscus is the concave curve of a liquid surface in a graduate or narrow tube. Caused by surface tension.

Google is your friend!!!!!

Just to elaborate:

The meniscus forms in any liquid because the edges, which come in contact with the container, experience some friction which resists the pull of gravity and holds them higher than the liquid not in contact with the container. The curved surface is held together by surface tension, giving the familiar shape. Think of a piece of string that you hold loosely between your two hands: it will sag in the middle relative to the ends that you hold. That's exactly what's going on with the molecules in the liquid.

Mark Lipton

"Mark Lipton" skrev i melding news:df7gcs$27o$ snipped-for-privacy@mailhub227.itcs.purdue.edu...

Hi Mark Would you elaborate on that and explain mercury's behaviour? It's a liquid too, isn't it? Thx in advance Anders

OK. You asked for it, Anders! ;-) In the case of mercury, its attraction to glass is very low (its "wetting"), whereas its surface tension is very high. In this, it differs from water and most other liquids. Because it would rather associate with itself rather than glass, it minimizes its contact with the glass, giving rise to its famous "inverted meniscus." For that same reason, when you place small drops of mercury on most any surface, they form perfect spheres, in contrast to water which forms a thin film.

HTH Mark Lipton

ObWine: 2001 D'Arenberg "Footbolt" Shiraz opened last night showed deep, berryish fruit but good structure and was very pleasant with homemade tacos al carbon (aka "fajitas")

I had knee pain a few years ago...they said it was the Meniscus....I didn't realize the knew I drank wine....:-)

Unless you are Microsoft. Then it is an increasing pesky growth stock whose employees seem oddly cooler than yours....