Potometer - GCSE Biology Definition

Reviewed by: Lára Marie McIvor

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A potometer is a device used to measure the rate of water uptake by a plant, which is used as an estimate of the rate of transpiration. It usually consists of a capillary tube filled with water, into which a freshly cut plant shoot is inserted. As the plant loses water through transpiration, it draws water up through the stem, and the movement of a water bubble in the tube can be measured to calculate how fast water is being taken up. Potometers help GCSE Biology students understand how water moves through a plant and how different factors affect transpiration.

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Lára Marie McIvor

Reviewer: Lára Marie McIvor

Expertise: Biology, Psychology & Sociology Subject Lead

Lára graduated from Oxford University in Biological Sciences and has now been a science tutor working in the UK for several years. Lára has a particular interest in the area of infectious disease and epidemiology, and enjoys creating original educational materials that develop confidence and facilitate learning.

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