Why Did the Water Level Drop in a Sealed Graduated Cylinder?

[cornflakes]

A rock is placed in a graduated cylinder containing water, and the cylinder is covered to avoid evaporation. The next morning the water level has dropped by 5.6 ml. No one has had access to the cylinder, and the cylinder has no leaks. What is the most likely explanation for what happened?



Thank you in advance

 

[rock.freak667]

The rock was very dry and it absorbed some water?

 

[sir-pinski]

for your help! It is possible that the rock has absorbed some of the water, causing the decrease in water level. This could happen if the rock is porous or has small cracks and crevices that allow water to seep in. Another possibility is that the water level was not accurately measured the previous day, leading to an incorrect initial measurement. It is also possible that the cylinder was not completely sealed, allowing for some evaporation to occur. To determine the exact cause, it may be helpful to repeat the experiment and carefully monitor the water level and the cylinder's seal.