Activity 4: Transpiration SUCK IT UP! A STUDY OF TRANSPIRATION
Transpiration and water movement through plants play an
important role in the hydrologic cycle. The activity shows how
transpiration relates to weather conditions. Instructional
Method: Experiment Goal: To show students how plants perform a
vital part in the hydrologic cycle. Objectives: Students will be
able to: Set up: 5 minutes Surface water such as lakes and
oceans is not the only place from where water vapor comes.
Plants are instrumental in moving water within the ground up to
the surface. Transpiration is the act of liquid water changing
into water vapor on the surface of a plant. It is similar to
evaporation, only more difficult to observe, and takes place
ONLY on plants. Plants move water through small "vessels" that
are stacked one on top of the other, like a giant soda straw. As
water is removed from the top of the straw through
transpiration, more water must move up the straw to take its
place. Image by Hailey King, NASA As the sun tra