Biology / Unit 11 Bio 2541 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Water Potential: Solute, Pressure, Gravity, Matric Components
Captions available
The idea
A plant's water potential sums four components — solute, pressure, gravity, and matric potential — and water always moves from higher to lower total water potential.
In practice
Dissolved solute lowers a cell's water potential below that of the surrounding soil, driving water inward by osmosis, per Bio 0347.
Where people slip
Water responds to total water potential only, never to any one component considered alone.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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