Transport in Plants Exercise 11

Question:

The camel said, “Humph” repeatedly. How did it affect him?

Answer:

  1. The camel said “Humph” repeatedly, indicating that he was feeling annoyed or frustrated.
  2. This expression of annoyance or frustration likely had an emotional effect on the camel, making him feel agitated or irritated.

Question:

Velu stood on the platform but he felt “as if he was still on a moving train”. Why? What made him feel miserable?

Answer:

Step 1: Velu felt as if he was still on a moving train because he had just gotten off a train and his body was still used to the motion of the train.

Step 2: This feeling made him feel miserable because he was used to the motion of the train and the sudden stop of the train made him feel disoriented and uncomfortable.

Question:

What, according to the Djinn, was the use of the “humph”?

Answer:

  1. In the story, the Djinn is asked a question by the protagonist, to which the Djinn responds with a “humph.”

  2. The protagonist then asks the Djinn what the purpose of the “humph” was.

  3. The Djinn replies that the “humph” was a sign of his displeasure at being asked a question he did not want to answer.

Question:

What are the factors affecting the rate of diffusion?

Answer:

Step 1: Understand the concept of diffusion.

Step 2: Identify the factors that can influence the rate of diffusion. These include: temperature, concentration gradient, molecular size, and viscosity of the medium.

Step 3: Analyze the effect of each factor on the rate of diffusion. Temperature increases the rate of diffusion, while a higher concentration gradient increases the rate of diffusion. Molecular size and viscosity of the medium both decrease the rate of diffusion.

Step 4: Summarize the factors affecting the rate of diffusion. The rate of diffusion is affected by temperature, concentration gradient, molecular size, and viscosity of the medium.

Question:

What happens when a pressure greater than the atmospheric pressure is applied to pure water or a solution?

Answer:

  1. When a pressure greater than the atmospheric pressure is applied to pure water or a solution, the water molecules become more tightly packed together, resulting in an increase in the density of the water or solution.

  2. This increased density causes the water or solution to become more viscous, meaning that it becomes thicker and more resistant to flow.

  3. Additionally, the pressure can cause the water or solution to boil at a lower temperature than normal, which is known as “superheating.” This can cause the water or solution to become unstable and can cause it to boil over or even explode if the pressure is too high.

Question:

What causes the opening and closing of guard cells of stomata during transpiration?

Answer:

  1. Stomata are small pores on the surfaces of leaves and stems of plants.

  2. Guard cells are the specialized cells that surround the stomata.

  3. Transpiration is the process of water movement through a plant and its evaporation from aerial parts, such as leaves, stems and flowers.

  4. The opening and closing of guard cells of stomata during transpiration is caused by the movement of water and solutes in and out of the guard cells. This movement is regulated by the balance of solutes and water inside and outside the cells. When the concentration of solutes is higher outside the cells, water flows out of the cells and the stomata closes. When the concentration of solutes is higher inside the cells, water flows into the cells and the stomata opens.

Question:

Briefly describe water potential. What are the factors affecting it?

Answer:

  1. Water potential is a measure of the potential energy of water in a given system. It is expressed in terms of pressure potential (Ψ), which is the energy per unit volume of water in the system.

  2. The factors affecting water potential are: solute concentration, temperature, pressure, and gravity. Solute concentration affects water potential because higher concentrations of solutes will increase the osmotic pressure of the solution, thus increasing the water potential. Temperature affects water potential because higher temperatures will reduce the density of the water, thus reducing the water potential. Pressure affects water potential because higher pressures will increase the density of the water, thus increasing the water potential. Gravity affects water potential because higher gravitational forces will increase the density of the water, thus increasing the water potential.

Question:

“…he has never yet learnt to behave”. In the light of this, what is the writer’s opinion about the camel?

Answer:

The writer’s opinion about the camel is that it has not been taught to behave properly yet.

Question:

Explain what will happen to a plant cell, if it is kept in a solution having higher water potential.

Answer:

  1. If a plant cell is kept in a solution having higher water potential, it will experience a process known as osmosis.

  2. Osmosis is the process in which water molecules move from an area of lower water potential (the plant cell) to an area of higher water potential (the solution).

  3. As a result, the plant cell will take up water from the solution, causing the cell to swell.

  4. This swelling will cause the cell membrane to stretch and eventually burst, leading to the death of the cell.

Question:

Explain why xylem transport is unidirectional and phloem transport bi-directional?

Answer:

  1. Xylem transport is unidirectional because it is a specialized tissue for transporting water and minerals from the roots to the leaves. This type of transport is necessary for the plant to survive, as the water and minerals are essential for the plant’s growth and development.

  2. Phloem transport is bi-directional because it is a specialized tissue for transporting organic compounds, such as sugars, from the leaves to other parts of the plant. This type of transport is necessary for the plant to survive, as the sugars are essential for the plant’s growth and development, as well as providing energy for the plant.