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How Trees Bend the Laws of Physics

Veritasium4 HN recommenders · 2013–2026
5M views · explainer · evergreen · Uploaded 2012-10-30

Veritasium explains how trees lift water from roots to the top of tall trunks, using transpiration pull and the negative pressure that liquid water can sustain. It explains why trees do not need pumps or valves.

HN commenters recommend it as one of Veritasium's best videos and one that has aged well.

Everyday physics & science demosAnimals & natureFundamental physics

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5 comments from Hacker News

@vacri2013 · in “Why trees can't grow taller than around 100 metres”

This is an interesting video with an alternate explanation - the pressure required to get water to the top of the tree. Normally you can only suck a water column up 10 meters, and that's using a perfect vacuum - but trees can grow higher than that. The secret sauce is that in a liquid rather than a gas, you can have a negative pressure. [VIDEO]

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@linsomniac2019 · in “Water transport system inspired by trees”

Just recently watched a Veritasium video on how trees get water from the roots to the top of the tree, and it's pretty awesome: [VIDEO]

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@_nalply2023 · in “In a surprising finding, light can make water evaporate without heat”

[VIDEO] It's an old video, more than ten years ago, but it aged well IMHO. I re-watched it and re-learned things I have forgotten.

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@bnegreve2026 · in “Giant trees have no trouble pumping water to top branches”

> all it should take is a system of valves, That would work, but it's not how to works apparently. According to this veritasium video, it's because of "negative pressure" aka tension. [VIDEO] I recommend watching, I think it's one of the best veritasium Dereck has ever produced.

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@Arodex2026 · in “Giant trees have no trouble pumping water to top branches”

... May we have the solution to the questions, also? I went through the concours too but I am very rusty. See also Veritasium on that topic: [VIDEO]

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