Thanks Walt,
I particularly like your statement:
>>In the meantime, we may generalize that the larger the diameter of ALL
the elements of our sight glass systems, the less apparent the capillarity
action will be.<<
I think I'll have you build me a sphere for my next sight glass!--or,--a
cone with the small end down?? Gotta go--gotta check on my maples!-I'm
really worried about them now and I thought this was all about steam
engines! From one problem to another!
Down with the sap--and UP with the steam! With my slippage may the forces
of adhesion and cohesion help me keep my steam up!
Geoff.
Geoff,
>In some species of plants, the cells may be quite long. In some cases they
>are attached end to end with what appear to be sieves at each end (think
>miniature bamboo inside a plant. The massmaple piece presented a few of the
>many facets of liquid and gas movement in plants. This is a subject that
>really intrigued me in grad school, but not enough to try to do a Ph.D. on
>it. Tooooooo many unknowns then, and I'm sure many still remain today.
> In the meantime, we may generalize that the larger the diameter of ALL
>the elements of our sight glass systems, the less apparent the capillarity
>action will be.
>Even though it is May, soon to be June, Maplesugar season is long past, but
>we sure hope all of you have your sap rising! May the forces of adhesion and
>cohesion not prevent you from keeping your steam up!
>Walt
