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Absorbency Definition

Absorbency is a material's ability to soak up liquid. For example, towels use this property to dry things.

View Lesson on Material Properties and Purposes
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Material Properties and Purposes

LESSON MATERIALSmove

Fun Facts

  • The main purpose of a diaper is to absorb liquids.
  • Sponges are used for their ability to soak up liquid.
  • Paper towels can absorb liquid, but less so than towels.

Why Do We Need To Know About Absorbency

Learning about absorbency helps us understand why some materials are better for certain jobs. For example, knowing which materials can soak up a lot of liquid is important when making things like diapers. This is because it helps keep people clean and dry, which is a big deal in making products for health and everyday use.

Knowing which materials don’t soak up water is key for making things like raincoats that keep you dry. This kind of knowledge is not only useful for making better products but can also lead to cool job opportunities in different areas.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is pizza not a good choice for building a chair?
It’s not strong enough to hold a person up. It will just collapse when you sit on it.
How could you test different materials to see which is the most absorbent?
You could test each material by seeing which one absorbed the most liquid.
What property of a school crossing sign serves its purpose of being easily seen?
The sign is brightly colored so that people see it.
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