Consider the following statements : If there were no phenomenon of capillary 1. it would be difficult to use a kerosene lamp 2. one would not be able to use a straw to consume a soft drink 3. he blotting paper would fail to function 4. he big trees that we see around would not have grown on the Earth Which of the statements given above are correct?

Capillary action is the movement of liquid through narrow spaces due to adhesion and surface tension. In kerosene lamps, the wick uses capillary action to pull fuel upward to the flame. Blotting paper functions by absorbing liquids into its porous structure through the same mechanism. In plants, while transpiration pull is the primary driver for water transport in tall trees, capillary action within the narrow xylem vessels provides the essential initial rise and support for the water column. However, using a straw to consume a soft drink is not a capillary phenomenon; it relies on atmospheric pressure. When a person sucks on a straw, they create a partial vacuum (low pressure) inside the straw, and the higher atmospheric pressure on the liquid's surface pushes it upward. Therefore, statements 1, 3, and 4 are correct.

Sources

1. [1] Science , class X (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: Life Processes > Activity 5.8 > p. 95