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GeoScience Services <br />a = surface tension. <br />0 = anele of capillarity <br />r = Dore/capillarity radius <br />h = height of capillary use <br />Figure 1 The phenomenon of capillarity <br />2263 Kii:gston Road <br />Crazed Junction, CO 81503 <br />(970) 314-3356 <br />As illustrated in Figure 1, water will rise in a capillary tube a distance of (h) depending <br />on the radius (r) of the capillary tube. Connected pores in soil or rock are analogous to a <br />capillary tube. The smaller the radius or the finer grain the soil, the greater the height (h) <br />the water will rise in the capillary. The height of rise (h) is a measurement of the matrix <br />potential (`Y,,,) and represents a negative pressure compared to atmospheric pressure-- <br />hence the term soil suction. <br />