Question

Capillary rise is most prominent in which soil?

• A. Gravel
• B. Sand
• C. Silt
• D. Clay

Hint:

Among all soil types, silt} exhibits the highest capillary rise because it has pore sizes that are just right for capillary action to be both fast and significant in height.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding capillary rise in soils
Capillary rise is the upward movement of water through the pore spaces in soil due to surface tension and adhesion. The extent of capillary rise depends on the pore size of the soil particles:
- Larger pores → less capillary action (e.g., gravel)
- Very small pores → slow water movement (e.g., clay)
- Moderate pores → optimal capillary action (e.g., silt)
Step 2: Pore size and soil type
- Gravel: Large pores → negligible capillary rise
- Sand: Moderate to large pores → low capillary rise
- Silt: Medium pores → highest capillary rise
- Clay: Very small pores → high rise, but extremely slow
Step 3: Final Answer
Hence, silt shows the most prominent capillary rise due to its optimal pore size that balances height and speed of water movement.