AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Capillary action is the phenomenon that causes water to rise from plant roots to leaves. Moisture is transported through plants via transpiration, from roots to tiny pores on the underside of leaves, where it transforms into vapour and is discharged into the atmosphere.

Detailed explanation-2: -Capillary action helps bring water up into the roots. But capillary action can only “pull” water up a small distance, after which it cannot overcome gravity. To get water up to all the branches and leaves, the forces of adhesion and cohesion go to work in the plant’s xylem to move water to the furthest leaf.

Detailed explanation-3: -Because water molecules like to stick together (cohesion) and like to stick to the walls of the tubes of cellulose (adhesion), they rise up the tubes all the way from the roots to the leaves. Water then evaporates from the leaves, helping to draw up more water from the roots. This process is called capillary action.

Detailed explanation-4: -Osmosis. The water passes from the soil to the root by osmosis. The long and thin shape of root hairs maximizes surface area so that more water can enter. There is greater water potential in the soil than in the cytoplasm of the root hair cells.

Detailed explanation-5: -Once water enters the root from the soil it travels to the xylem vessels in the middle of the root. The xylem vessels transport the water up through the stem and into the leaves of the plant.