Capillary action
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Capillary action is the process of a liquid flowing in a narrow space in opposition to or at least without the assistance of any external forces like gravity.
Capillary water flow up a 225 mm-high porous brick after it was placed in a shallow tray of water. The time elapsed after first contact with water is indicated. From the weight increase, the estimated porosity is 25%.
Moderate rising damp on an internal wall
Capillary flow experiment to investigate capillary flows and phenomena aboard the International Space Station
Water height in a capillary plotted against capillary diameter
Candle wick
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A candle wick or lamp wick is usually made of braided cotton that holds the flame of a candle or oil lamp. A candle wick works by capillary action, conveying ("wicking") the fuel to the flame. When the liquid fuel, typically melted candle wax, reaches the flame it then vaporizes and combusts. In other words, the wick brings the liquified wax up into the flame to burn. The candle wick influences how the candle burns. Important characteristics of the wick include diameter, stiffness, fire-resistance, and tethering.
Wick of a candle
Candle wick in a candle
Flexible wick burning in wax
Dipped candles hanging by their wicks