filmov
tv
Surface tension experiment for kids
Показать описание
A simple science experiment for kids. Learn about the surface tension of water and have fun breaking it!
This is a fun experiment to help explain how bugs such as water boatmen are able to sit on the surface of ponds without sinking, it almost seems as if there is a membrane or skin on the water which is holding them up.
In actual fact there is no membrane but a tension on the surface of the water. Water molecules want to cling to each other. The molecules at the surface of the water have less other water molecules to bond to because of the air above them so they bond more strongly to the water molecules that are around them. This creates an inward net force that resists being stretched or broken.
One way to demonstrate this is to float a paperclip on some water in a glass. As long as the paperclip just rests on top of the water and doesn’t break through to the molecules underneath then it should float as if by magic!
If the surface of the water is disturbed too much then the paperclip will fall. Likewise adding a few drops of washing up liquid will also cause the clip to fall by reducing the surface tension. Soap partly repels water molecules. As you can see in the video from above the glass: just one drop of washing up liquid forces the water away from it and therefore propels the clip to the side of the glass. Add enough washing up liquid and the surface tension breaks causing the clip to sink to the bottom.
Eddie enjoyed testing different ways of breaking the surface tension (such as bashing the table) and using the little pipette to drop the washing up liquid in. Rosie was napping while we played with this and I expect would have just tried to drink the water so definitely one for slightly older children. Its a really quick and fun little experiment to try but feels like you are doing real science!
We are a young family trying to inspire parents and help them feel confident to introduce #STEM and #engineering topics to their children. We hope to give you some fun and easy ideas for #activities at home; along with the explanation of the #science behind them in an easy to understand format.
You can also find us on Facebook, Instagram and Tiktok!
This is a fun experiment to help explain how bugs such as water boatmen are able to sit on the surface of ponds without sinking, it almost seems as if there is a membrane or skin on the water which is holding them up.
In actual fact there is no membrane but a tension on the surface of the water. Water molecules want to cling to each other. The molecules at the surface of the water have less other water molecules to bond to because of the air above them so they bond more strongly to the water molecules that are around them. This creates an inward net force that resists being stretched or broken.
One way to demonstrate this is to float a paperclip on some water in a glass. As long as the paperclip just rests on top of the water and doesn’t break through to the molecules underneath then it should float as if by magic!
If the surface of the water is disturbed too much then the paperclip will fall. Likewise adding a few drops of washing up liquid will also cause the clip to fall by reducing the surface tension. Soap partly repels water molecules. As you can see in the video from above the glass: just one drop of washing up liquid forces the water away from it and therefore propels the clip to the side of the glass. Add enough washing up liquid and the surface tension breaks causing the clip to sink to the bottom.
Eddie enjoyed testing different ways of breaking the surface tension (such as bashing the table) and using the little pipette to drop the washing up liquid in. Rosie was napping while we played with this and I expect would have just tried to drink the water so definitely one for slightly older children. Its a really quick and fun little experiment to try but feels like you are doing real science!
We are a young family trying to inspire parents and help them feel confident to introduce #STEM and #engineering topics to their children. We hope to give you some fun and easy ideas for #activities at home; along with the explanation of the #science behind them in an easy to understand format.
You can also find us on Facebook, Instagram and Tiktok!
0:00:59
0:07:01
0:00:59
0:01:31
0:01:12
0:02:25
0:02:46
0:01:10
0:01:03
0:01:01
0:02:09
0:11:59
0:01:08
0:02:02
0:01:18
0:02:25
0:02:39
0:02:24
0:01:06
0:03:28
0:09:30
0:00:52
0:00:53
0:01:00