The correct answer is option 3: capillary action in the wick. Capillary action is the ability of a liquid to flow against gravity in a narrow space, such as a small tube or a porous material like a wick. In the case of a kerosene lantern, the wick is usually made of a material that is absorbent and has small openings or gaps.

When the lower end of the wick comes into contact with the kerosene oil, it starts to absorb the oil through capillary action. The narrow gaps or pores in the material of the wick allow the oil to be drawn upward against gravity. This upward movement of the oil through the wick is what causes it to rise.

Options 1, 2, and 4 are incorrect explanations for why kerosene oil rises in a wick. Option 1 suggests that the buoyancy of air plays a role, but in reality, it is the capillary action acting against gravity. Option 2 suggests diffusion, which is the movement of particles from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration, but kerosene oil does not diffuse through the wick. Option 4 mentions the gravitational pull of the wick, but the wick itself does