Soaking Up Water
When a material takes in water and gets wet inside, we say it can absorb water. Some materials absorb water well and some do not.
- Cloth, paper and sponge can absorb water.
- Plastic, glass and metal do not absorb water. The water stays on top.
Key idea
Materials that absorb water: cloth, paper, sponge. Materials that do not: plastic, glass, metal.
Using These Materials
We choose materials by how they act with water. We use a towel made of cloth to dry our hands. We use a raincoat made of plastic to stay dry.
Example
If you spill water, you wipe it with a sponge or cloth because they soak up the water.