Page 104 - A Chain of Miracles

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A A Chain of Miracles

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THE SURFACE TENSION OF WATER HAS BEEN
SPECIFICALLY ADJUSTED TO SUPPORT LIFE
Any liquid’s surface tension is created by the forces of at-
traction between its molecules. Thus, the surface tension of
every liquid is different. Water’s surface tension is greater than
most other liquids’, with significant biological effects on plant
life.

How can plants possibly transport water from deep under-
ground to branches and twigs many meters high, without the
use of pumps or muscles? The answer is that the channels in
plant roots and veins have been designed to take advantage of
water’s surface tension. These channels narrow towards the top
of a plant, causing water to “climb” upwards.
What makes this design functional is water’s great surface

tension. Were it weaker, as in most liquids, terrestrial plants of
any size would not be able to exist. An environment without
plant life would mean no edible crops, no forage for animals,
and thus, no human existence.
High surface tension causes also the breakup of rocks.
Thanks to its high surface tension, water can penetrate the small-
est crevices in rock formations. When temperatures fall below
zero, water freezes and expands, exerting great force against the
rock and expanding the crack eventually wedging it wider. This

process is crucial in extracting the minerals locked in rock for-
mations and also plays a vital role in soil formation.

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