Final answer:
Water is able to travel up from the roots to the leaves in plants due to the properties of adhesion and cohesion, capillary action, and evaporation and transpiration.
Step-by-step explanation:
Water is able to travel up from the roots to the leaves in plants due to several properties of water:
- Adhesion and cohesion: Water molecules are attracted to each other (cohesion) and to the walls of the xylem vessels (adhesion). This allows water to move upwards, forming a continuous column.
- Capillary action: The cohesion and adhesion properties of water allow it to travel up narrow tubes against gravity. This action is similar to how water can climb up a thin straw.
- Evaporation and transpiration: As water evaporates from the leaves through tiny pores called stomata, it creates a negative pressure or tension in the xylem vessels. This tension pulls water up from the roots through the xylem.
Learn more about Water movement in plants