How Trees Bend the Laws of Physics

Veritasium · 5M views · 2012-10-30 · 7:23

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Overview

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.

On Hacker News

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

Recommended by 4 HN people across 4 months · HN mentions 2013–2026

Topics

Everyday physics & science demos Animals & nature Fundamental physics

What people said

bnegreve · 2026-07 · Strong recommendation
> 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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_nalply · 2023-11 · Strong recommendation
[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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linsomniac · 2019-07 · Strong recommendation
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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Sources

Video by Veritasium, played through YouTube.

HN Library · Source license

Data and selection notes

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