Final answer:
Osmosis is the process by which water molecules move across a semipermeable membrane from an area of higher water potential to an area of lower water potential until equilibrium is reached. It can be demonstrated using a U-tube setup with pure water in one arm and a dilute solution of glucose in the other arm.
Step-by-step explanation:
Osmosis is the process by which water molecules move across a semipermeable membrane from an area of higher water potential to an area of lower water potential until equilibrium is reached. It can be demonstrated using a U-tube setup with pure water in one arm and a dilute solution of glucose in the other arm. The osmotic pressure of the glucose solution is the difference in pressure between the two sides, which can be equalized by applying an external pressure.
In this setup, the semipermeable membrane allows water molecules to pass through but restricts the movement of solute molecules. As a result, water flows from the side with lower solute concentration to the side with higher solute concentration in order to balance the overall concentration. This movement of water is driven by the difference in water potential between the two systems.