eli5 Why does water form a meniscus in a glass of water
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Because water is a bit like a glue, water molecules like to attach themselves to the molecules of other materials. It’s why your hands get wet if you submerge them in water.
Mercury is the opposite, it’s meniscus is “down” because it does NOT like to attach itself to molecules of other materials, and [your hands wouldn’t get wet](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNx2bJUctRE).
Water is a polar molecule. The oxygen atom “hogs” the electrons a bit, making it slightly negative and the hydrogens slightly positive. The charge makes them stick to each other a bit (eg. surface tension), as well as anything else with a slight charge.
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