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

Answer 1

To model the movement of water up a plant's stem against the force of gravity, the best option would be:

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

This option effectively illustrates capillarity and the process by which water is absorbed and moves upward through a plant's stem and leaves, similar to how water moves through the plant's vascular system (xylem) due to capillary action.

Options A, C, and D don't accurately simulate the specific mechanism by which plants transport water upward against gravity.