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Most things that you see and feel are made of tiny particles called molecules. Molecules are made up of even tinier particles called atoms. Do you remember what we learned about atoms? There are only 90 kinds of atoms in nature, but different combinations of atoms make up millions of billions of different molecules that we see around us. Water is one molecule that you are already familiar with. A
water molecule is made of three atoms: 2 hydrogen atoms and 1 oxygen atom. This is why we call it H2O.
Molecules like to pull together to stop themselves from breaking up. Today, you will explore how water molecules pull each other
together.
Experiments
Experiment 1 So, lets experiment with surface tension! We will see how
You will need Spoon Water Clean table top Toothpick Dishwashing liquid
Method 1. Dip the spoon in some water and then drip it onto the table top. The water molecules should hold together in little dome shapes.
2. Now, touch the water droplets with the toothpick dipped in dishwashing liquid. What happens to the water as soon as you touch it with the soapy toothpick? Are the water molecules
Experiment 2 If water molecules can tug on each other, cant they also tug on things that are afloat? Lets see!
Method 1. Fill the pie tin with water, and sprinkle some pepper onto the surface. 2. Now, gently touch the water with the toothpick dipped in dishwashing liquid. What happens to the pepper? Why do you think this happens?
Water molecules pull towards left and right. equally
Water molecules pull more weakly on the side that has soap chemicals
Experiment 3 Now is the time to have some fun! Lets make a boat that moves by surface tension.
You will need: Pie tin (pour out all the soapy water)
Method 1. Cut the plastic sheet into a shape of a boat (about 1 inch) 2. Scrape the bar of soap with the bottom edge of the boat. 3. Fill the pie tin with clean water, and carefully place the boat onto the water. What happened to the boat? Can you explain why this happened?
2. Why can pond skaters swim across the water without sinking?
3. Why cant you skate across the water like pond skaters?
4. Can pond skaters skate across soap water? Why do/dont you think so?
hold together to make a dome shape. What would a water droplet look like in space, where theres no gravity?