AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -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-2: -An example of capillary action is what happens inside a drinking straw left in a cup of water. The force of adhesion which holds the water together and to the straw is a little stronger than gravity, so the water will rise inside the straw a little higher than the rest of the water.

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: -Common examples of capillary action include: Placing a straw into a glass of water.

Detailed explanation-5: -An example of capillary action is when you place a straw into a glass of water. The water seems to climb up the straw before you even place your mouth on the straw. The water has created hydrogen bonds with the surface of the straw, causing the water to adhere to the sides of the straw.