Water flows up a plant's stem against the force of gravity.

Question

In which of the following ways could the movement of water up a plant be modeled?
A.
Place the tip of a sponge in water dyed with food coloring. Watch how the water moves up the sponge.
B.
Blow through a clear straw in a glass of water. Observe the level of water inside the straw.
C.
Pour a glass of water on top of a towel that is spread out on a table.
D.
Place a clear pipe in a small tub of water. Shake the tub back and forth. Watch how the water moves around the pipe.

Answer 1

The most appropriate way to model the movement of water up a plant's stem against the force of gravity would be:

A. Place the tip of a sponge in water dyed with food coloring. Watch how the water moves up the sponge.

This scenario demonstrates how water can be absorbed and transported against gravity, similar to how plants utilize processes like capillary action and transpiration to move water from their roots to their leaves. The dye makes it easy to observe the movement of the water through the sponge, analogous to how water travels through the plant's vascular system (xylem).

The other options do not effectively illustrate the same principles of water movement against gravity as seen in plants.