Materials That Absorb Water
To absorb water means to soak it up. Some materials soak up water very well. Other materials do not soak up water at all.
Key idea
Sponge, cloth, tissue paper and cotton absorb water. Plastic, glass, metal and rubber do not absorb water.
Why This is Useful
We choose materials by what they can do:
- A towel is made of cloth, so it soaks up water to dry us.
- A sponge soaks up spilt water when we clean.
- An umbrella is made of a material that does not absorb water, so it keeps us dry.
Example
Wipe spilt milk with a cloth and it soaks up. Wipe it with a plastic ruler and the milk stays. That is why we keep our books away from water, because paper soaks it up and gets soft.
Remember
- Absorb means soak up.
- Sponge and cloth absorb water.
- Plastic and glass do not.