Final answer:
The container catching the mercury must be placed closer to the table in order to catch the fluid.
Step-by-step explanation:
The container catching the mercury must be placed closer to the table in order to catch the fluid.
This is because of the phenomenon of capillary action, which is the ability of a liquid to flow against gravity in a narrow space, such as a tube or in this case, a small hole. The height to which a liquid rises in a capillary tube is determined by several factors, including the relative strength of the cohesive and adhesive forces of the liquid.
Mercury has a convex meniscus, meaning that the surface of the liquid inside the tube is lower than the level of the liquid outside the tube. This results in the liquid squirting out farther from the side hole, so the container catching the mercury must be closer to the table to catch the fluid.