In 1982, the Tudor warship *Mary Rose* was salvaged from the Solent seabed after four centuries underwater. To prevent the waterlogged wooden hull from collapsing as it dried, conservators sprayed it with polyethylene glycol (PEG), a synthetic polymer. Because PEG molecules can replace the water within the wood’s cellular structure, the polymer effectively supports the cell walls and prevents shrinkage. Once the wood cells were sufficiently infused and stabilized with PEG over several decades, the spraying process was replaced with controlled air-drying to complete the preservation process.
Based on the text, what is true of the polyethylene glycol used on the *Mary Rose*?
- It replaces water inside the wood's cells to prevent the hull from shrinking and collapsing.Cevap
- BIt was sprayed continuously onto the hull throughout the entire preservation process, including during air-drying.
- CIt was chosen by conservators because synthetic polymers are more durable than natural wood preservatives.
- DIt was applied to the hull of the warship before the vessel was salvaged from the seabed.
Cevap
Polyethylene glycol replaces water inside the wood's cells to prevent the hull from shrinking and collapsing.
The correct answer is supported by the text, which explicitly states that PEG molecules replace the water within the wood’s cellular structure, supporting the cell walls and preventing shrinkage.
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Anahtar Kavram
Identifying explicit details in an informational text.