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How Paper Absorbs Water

By Janice VanCleave

An animated diagram of water and fiber molecules. Fiber to water - adhesion, water to water-cohesion.

How Does Water Move Through Paper? Paper is made of plant fibers. In the process of making paper, the fibers overlap forming a massive network of tunnels in all directions throughout the paper. The chemical molecules making up the fibers are attractive to water water molecules. Adhesion is the name of the force of attraction […]

Filed Under: Chemistry Tagged With: absorption, adhesion, capillary action, cohesion, fiber, molecules

Capillary Action

By Janice VanCleave

Capillary action is due to the cohesion of water molecules with each other and the adhesion of the water molecules with the walls of the glass tubes.

Capillary Action is also called wicking, which is the ability of a substance to draw another substance into it. In the diagram, three different size glass tubes are standing in a container of colored water. Notice that the water rises to a different height in each of the tubes. The more narrow the tube, the […]

Filed Under: Biology Tagged With: adhesion, capillary action, cohesion, transpiration, transpiration system

Soap Bubbles

By Janice VanCleave

Question: Why doesn’t water form bubbles? Answer: Cohesion is the force between molecules that are alike, such as between water molecules. The cohesion between water molecules too strong to allow the water to form bubbles. The bubbles shown in the photo are made with a solution of soap and water. The soap reduces the force […]

Filed Under: Chemistry Tagged With: adhesion, cohesion, soap bubbles, surface tension

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Welcome to Janice’s Science Extravaganza!

The spoon hanging from the string vibrates when struck and these vibrations are transmitted through the string and the sound is amplified by the plastic cups. ABOUT ME: Hi, I am Janice VanCleave, author of 50 best-selling science experiment books for children ages 4 through high school. I taught science for 27 years. MORE.....

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