Why does a wet dishcloth or sponge soak up more water than a dry one?

Answer 1

don't listen to them. it does. it's because when the skin of the water meets another skin of another body of water(no matter how small itis) it will bond with it. when skin of water meets with something dry, like the fibers of a dry sponge or cloth, it will try to repel from it. although, a wet sponge and a dry sponge can essentially soak up the same amount of water, a wet sponge will soak it up quicker, and hold it better because of that bond.

good luck, hope that helps!!

Answer 2

It may seem as if it soaks up less when it's dry only for the fact that different molecules (water and cellulose) create surface tension at the microscopic level and it takes energy to get them close enough to overcome it. Whan it does interact and get wet, the water easily attracts other water molecules giving them almost a magnetic effect witch chemists and doctors refer to as "capillary action". So dry does soak up more but it takes quite a bit longer than a cloth that is moist and rung out. So much so that it takes more effort and time with a dry sponge.

Answer 3

amleecdt is correct. the surface tension of water wants to repel foreign material. two sponges, one wrung to damp, one dry, the same size, could potentially hold the same amount of water. an experiment you can try is to measure an amount of H2O into 2 containers. [in this case, size doesn't matter ;)] . squeeze both and place in their respective vessels. @ a specific time, remove the sponges and remeasure the H2O. Document your results. perform the experiment as many times as necessary with different soak times. turn in your results with a short description of what and how to your teacher. you will get an A for effort

Answer 4

Hi. I agree with Rick. A dry sponge may not be as flexible and so may make it appear to leave water behind, but the total water absorbed is greater with a dry sponge.

Answer 5

It doesn't.

It soaks up LESS, but what it does soak up it does so faster.....reason:

Because water is more attracted to itself than to the material of the dry sponge (or like material). Therefore it is drawn into the sponge faster being alittle moist than dry.

Answer 6

it shouldnt. paper towels absorb water because it is made of tiny sugar crystals. if they are already full of water and you try to add more, the sugar breaks down which makes the paper towels tear.

Answer 7

It doesnt, it just spreads it out more.

Answer 8

it doesn't