Which way do roots grow, etc?

Question

In which direction do roots grow? What are root hairs? What are their function?

Answer 1

roots dont grow in one specific direction, they just branch out to where they can collect water and nutrients from the soil. root hairs are little hairs all over the roots. their purpose is to increase the surface area on the roots so there is a bigger area to absorb nutrientas and water.

Answer 2

Roots can grow in any downish direction (horizontal and down).  Gravitropism is root growth downward.  Hydrotropism is root growth toward water (could be horizontal, angular, or downward.  Thigmotropism is the growth in response to touch (for instance, to grow around a stone).  

Root hairs are small extensions of the root epidermal cells.  They increase the surface area for nutrient and water uptake (the greater the surface area the more resources the root can take up).

Answer 3

roots grow toward the source of gravity (known as gravitropism)

starch organelles called amyloplasts migrate toward the part of the cell with the greatest gravitational pull,  growth is then initiated in the direction of the gravitational source,  years ago people thought roots grew toward the ground...experiments in space and other research showed that it was toward the gravity, not the earth specifically