If a potato is dehydrated by sitting in the open air, would h20 potential of potato increase or decrease? why?

Question

I am completely confused, water potential is the difference in free energy or chemical potential between pure water and water in cells and solutions, but i don't understand the logistics of this equation.

Answer 1

It would increase. The most familiar example of potential is an electric cell think of the cell and the outside water as two electrodes and the cell wall as a salt bridge or connector. When difference in water levels is more it leads to a greater flow of water across the membrane due to an increased H2O potential.