Inertial capillarity

Abstract

We present new results on an old problem (capillary rise). A small tube is put in contact with a liquid of low viscosity. It is found that 1) the early stage of the rise is described by a linear law for the position of the meniscus vs. time; 2) oscillations around the equilibrium occur if the liquid viscosity is low enough. A simple analytical model allows us to understand these behaviours.