Importante Note: The mechanisms described in the previous slide
continue on until equilibrium is reached.
Equilibrium is what is shown on the picture above.
Let me remind you of these mechanisms:
- As water flows in the right compartment, osmolarity of the solution on the right decreases,
water potential difference between the two sides decreases,
net movement of water from left to right decreases,
osmotic pressure of the solution on the right decreases.
- As water flows in the right side,
the difference in the height of the two columns increases.
An hydrostatic pressure develops in the right column that counteracts
and diminishes the net movement of water from left to right.
- As you guessed, equilibrium is reached when hydrostatic pressure in the right side
is high enough to prevents any net movement of water from the left side to the right side.
- In other words, equilibrium is reached when hydrostatic pressure equals osmotic pressure.