Question

As soil particle size decreases, capillary action will​

Answer 1

As soil particle size decreases, capillary action increases due to heightened adhesive forces between the fluid and soil particles, which are capable of overpowering gravity.

Step-by-step explanation:

As soil particle size decreases, the capillary action will generally increase. This is because capillary action is the result of the interplay between cohesive and adhesive forces in liquids. When a fluid is in contact with a narrow channel or tube, the adhesive forces between the fluid and the walls of the container can pull the fluid upwards, combating gravity. The smaller the channel or, in the case of soil, the tighter the spaces between soil particles, the stronger the capillary action.

Capillary action is crucial for various natural processes and technologies. In plants, for instance, it helps in transporting water and nutrients from the roots to the rest of the plant through the xylem vessels, which are essentially narrow tubes. Moreover, capillary action is the basis for thin layer chromatography, which is a method used to separate mixtures in a laboratory setting.

Answer 2

Increases

Step-by-step explanation:

The smaller is the size of the soil, the greater is the interspace distance between the two soil particles. As this distance increases, the water gets more space to travel through thereby increasing the capillary action. Hence, as the size of soil particle reduces, capillarity increases.