Nature Example
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How Plants "Sweat"
Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Click here for the license
Just like you sweat on a hot day to cool down, plants "sweat" too! This is called transpiration, and it's a key part of the water cycle.
How it works:
Plants suck up water (liquid) from the soil through their roots. They let extra water out through tiny, tiny holes in their leaves (called stomata). The liquid water evaporates and turns into invisible water vapour (gas), which floats away into the air.
💡 Fun Facts
- A large oak tree can release over 1,000 litres of water (that's more than 10 bathtubs full!) into the air in a single day.
- This is why rainforests are so damp and cloudy—the trees are all "sweating" and making their own clouds.
- This process also helps the plant to pull more water up from its roots, like sucking on a giant straw.