WHY IS WATER WET?

r0GuE · Jun 7, 2003

I've been asked this question approximately 60 times in the last week. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif My three year old is persistent (what else does he have to do). My wife told him I would post the question on TBN and get a good answer there. After all, that's where papa gets all his information. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Egon · Jun 7, 2003

Water is a substance that can exist in three different phazes. The " wet" applies to a substance that has absorbed water or has a film of water adhering to it. Water would be a noun. Wet would be an adverb describing the noun. The word wetting would be an adjetive describing the action of getting wet.

Hope that's write. Memories a little fuzzy.

Egon

smilingreen · Jun 7, 2003

Why is alcohol dry?

Anonymous Poster · Jun 7, 2003

Why is water wet?

Because it wouldn't be as much fun if it wasn't.

(I'm still much closer to a 3 year old in spirit)

DocHeb · Jun 7, 2003

Water is wet because it sticks to things. As a human, it sticks to us so it seems wet to us. Tar would be wet since it sticks to us, but it sure would be a "thick" wetness /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif. If you were an oil molecule, water wouldn't seem wet to you since it wouldn't "stick" to you .

StoneHeartFarm · Jun 7, 2003

"Wet" is one of the words we use to describe liquids. Wet is what we feel when a liquid touches our skin. If it were dry, we'd call it dust. Now go ask your mother again. She knows, she just doesn't want to tell you. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Steve

r0GuE · Jun 7, 2003

( Now go ask your mother again. She knows, she just doesn't want to tell you. )

Now there is an answer that just may work!! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Anonymous Poster · Jun 7, 2003

Its because of gravity,I thought every one knew that. RICHARD GAUTHIER

Anonymous Poster · Jun 7, 2003

I mean its simple,you fall in the water and get wet,rain falls from the sky,etc. RICHARD GAUTHIER

LSmith · Jun 7, 2003

I bought powdered water but I don't know what to add? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Gatorboy · Jun 7, 2003

Water is wet because it is a liquid.

If you don't like my answer, perhaps either one of these pages (1 | 2) will give you a better answer.

Anonymous Poster · Jun 7, 2003

Because it is a liquid at room temperature. In fact, you have to get a lot colder than room temperature for it to freeze - and a LOT hotter for it to boil. (I guess that's why we like room temperature - we are mostly water.)

Because it has a low viscosity (compare to treacle)

Did you know that you can make liquids "wetter" by adding a surfactant? That's what some pesticides / herbicides need to make them sprayable ...

Also, did you know that glass is a very viscous liquid? If you don't believe me, look it up.

W.

P.S. Alcohol is "dry" because it has a significantly lower boiling point than water and hence evaporates quickly. It's not as stable as water at room temperature. That explains that Saturday morning feeling too!

Gary_in_Indiana · Jun 7, 2003

I bought powdered water but I don't know what to add 

I like Steven Wright's material, too. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Egon · Jun 8, 2003

I'm looking for a source for powdered Beer. It would sure lighten the load when backpacking or cycling.

Egon

TresCrows · Jun 9, 2003

I don't know /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif but I do know you can make water wetter with soap. I think water is the miracle substance. It is so common we take it for granted but when you study it's properties the stuff is not "common" at all but in fact is quite unusual, consider that it is something of a universal solvent just for one little thing. J

Mike_Dumond · Jun 9, 2003

Water is wet because, if it wasn't, then it wouldn't make rainbows. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

PBMAX · Jun 9, 2003

If you realy want to get ma ma. tell him to go ask her if hot water will freeze faster than room temp. water?

I know it does on a realy (20deg or so) cold day and you super heat it in the nukem and then toss it in the freezing cold air out side. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
I did this to one of my younger kin folk about 8 at the time. when she asked me and told her yeap hot water freezes faster. it turns to fine mist or tini tiny snow flakes as I told her.....

But why is water wet? Hmmmm......
I figures you have already tried:
Why not?
Just Becuase...
and so on.

I'd ask him to find out why it isn't dry... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif and you won't except because it's wet.... Put that little mind to work!!! It doesn't work for all kids. But for those 8 and under I just love to turn it around on them if at all possible....Besides some of their answers are realy funny.

If you find an answer he'll buy let me know mine is only 16mths old so I'll be hearing such questions soon.....