Types of Wood and Water

Most recent answer: 10/22/2007

Q:
How does water effect different types of wood?
- mimi (age 10)
A:
How does water effect different types of wood?

Different types of wood react differently with water. Some types of wood will easily absorb the water. Others take a long time to absorb the water.

Another big difference is how the wood floats in the water. If you take pieces of different types of wood (all the same size), you’ll notice that some of the wood is heavier than other. This is called density. The heavier wood (like oak) is more dense than the lighter wood (like balsa). If you put the pieces of wood in a tub of water, they’ll float. But the heavier (more dense) pieces of wood will have less above the surface while the lighter (less dense) wood will have more above the surface of the water.

Adam

(published on 10/22/2007)