Page 110 - Die Kette der Wunder
P. 110
DIE KETTE DER WUNDER
With no pumps or muscular
systems, plants raise water
several meters from their roots in
the Earth. The reason behind this is
surface tension. Channels in plants’ roots
and stems have been designed in such a way as to take advantage of sur-
face tension. These veins narrow as they rise, causing water to “climb” up-
wards. If the surface tension in water were as weak as in other liquids,
plants would then be unable to obtain water and would desiccate. On a
planet with no plant cover, human life would be impossible.
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