How Paper Towels Absorb Water | A Moment of Science | PBS

This time on a Moment of Science...
You've seen TV ads lauding the slurping powers of paper towels; while we won't make any exorbitant claims about them, we're going to discuss how they work.
A Moment of Science is a production of Indiana Public Media, in cooperation with Indiana University's scientific community and scientists around the world. Audio episodes are heard on stations worldwide and video episodes are seen each week on the Regional Emmy Award-winning children's program The Friday Zone on PBS stations WTIU and WFYI in Indiana. For more information, visit www.amomentofscience.org
Host: Mandy Striph
Developed for video by: Adam Schweigert
Opening Sequence Editor: Nick Chafin
Opening Sequence Graphics: Nick Chafin, Dave Gonzalez
Supervising Producer: Eric Bolstridge
Producer / Editor: Mark Johnson
Videography: Justin Crossley, Ross Crooks
Writers: Don Glass, Susan Linville, William Orem, Jeremy Shere, Eric Sonstroem
Featuring: Jim Morris
Special Thanks: Professor Steven L. Tait

[@MatteoMiller]

this is shockingly good

[@rsnbrgjrdn]

Thank you! I learned so much.

[@Rutabega_NG]

Suspicious blue liquid, huh?

[@BariumCobaltNitrog3n]

So, do the sugar molecules dissolve out when you wring out the paper towel, making it less absorbent each time?

[@MatteoMiller]

Good question

[@diamondsandgold1993]

Wow! Very informative!

[@theprofessor5127]

How come this channel has so less subscribers?

[@FNHot]

Why then, if i stick a paper towels corner in liquid, doesnt the WHOLE thing, eventually get saturated. It only absorbs to a point, then stops. Standing, or on a flat surface.... if capillary action and positive and negative charges attract the water, there should be no stopping point until the towel is soaked ... but it doesnt do that ...

[@rohanc5738]

It stops when the force of the water pulling up is equal to the weight of the water pulling it down. It won't move if the forces are equal.

[@yifaatasher243]

So I'm doing a science project about which towel absorbs more; 100% cotton or Sparkle paper towels. Can you do a video about that, because it will really help. Thanks!!! :)

[@68topshot]

the perfect ap bio research project

[@jareethompson2295]

Who else is here in 2020?

[@abell4595]

Do not try to eat papertowels 🤣😂😆

[@burritowarrior5367]

Thumbnail looks like ninja

[@kachua8317]

How do you spell silos fibers

[@kevinwong4446]

cellulose?

[@LostGamer11]

I’m high af trying to figure out how paper towels absorb water and this video did not help at all. Thank you

[@thechillzbro7146]

Cool

[@mariap7645]

Lol, goats eat stuff...😅

[@Thatsaspicymemeball]

wut

[@davinaa0]

don't get it

[@sammallios5871]

SO FUNNY XD L0L

[@whimsiy8200]

Eeh

[@sammallios5871]

Lol that was 2 years ago I don’t even rember watching that

[@magflipexpert2565]

hi
read more

[@CalpolMeister]

What the fuck

[@magflipexpert2565]

that made absolutely no sense