Roots absorb water from soil by employing three physical processes,...

The absorption of water by roots from the soil involves three sequential physical processes:

First, the hydrophilic colloidal substances (like cellulose and pectin) present in the cell wall of root hairs absorb water from the soil through imbibition.

Second, the imbibed water moves through the permeable cell wall and intercellular spaces via diffusion.

Finally, the water crosses the semi-permeable plasma membrane and enters the cell sap of the root hair due to an osmotic gradient, which is the process of osmosis.

Thus, the correct sequence is Imbibition \rightarrow Diffusion \rightarrow Osmosis.

Answer: Imbibition \rightarrow Diffusion \rightarrow Osmosis