SURFACE TENSION SCIENCE MODULE
PURPOSE
To better understand water tensions and properties of water. The surface tension of water is caused by the attraction of water molecules to each other.
METHOD
Three different experiments:
- Penny Experiment
- Drop multiple pennies in the cup of water
- How far can you go until the water spills over?
This demonstrates the molecules of water have an attraction to each other and this attraction is known as Surface Tension.
- Pepper Experiment
- In a dish of water sprinkle pepper
- Apply dish soap to water and the pepper scatters
This occurs because the dish soap reduces the surface tension in the dish, moving the pepper to the edge of the dish.
- Paper Clip Experiment
- In a dish of water, put a paper clip on the top surface
- Apply dish soap and the paper clip sinks
This demonstrates that because of the water's property of surface tension, small objects are able to float on the surface, but when the surface tension is reduced by the dish soap, the object will sink.
