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Scared Pepper Demo

Target Age: Any

Topics: Physics
Concepts: Surface Tension
Estimated Time: 5 minutes

Brief Description:
Pepper flakes are sprinkled into a wide flat dish filled with water. The pepper naturally is fairly evenly
distributed on the surface of the water. When you put a drop of dish soap on your finger, and stick that
finger in the center of the dish in the water, all the pepper flakes spread to the outside of the dish away
from your finger.
The Science Behind It:
The pepper sits on top of the water because of the water has strong surface tension. The water molecules
are strongly attracted together so the pepper does not sink in. When we add a little soap we break down
this surface tension. The top layer of water molecules very quickly spread out. This top layer of
molecules that spread out cary the pepper with them, making it look like the pepper all runs away from
your finger.

Safety:
Don’t drink the dish soap, or the water with the dish soap and
pepper.
(Lets be honest here, if you find a way to get hurt you’re pretty
dumb)

Materials:
● 1 wide dish, preferably white or clear (A deep plate or a big, shallow bowl will work)
● Ground Pepper Flakes
● Dish Soap
Procedure:
1. Fill the wide shallow dish with water
2. Pour or grind pepper flakes onto the water in the dish
3. Put a drop of dish soap on your finger
4. Dip the finger with dish soap on it in the middle of the dish with the water and pepper
5. Ask questions to the kids about the experiment
Discussion Questions:
● What is surface tension?
● Why are molecules of water attracted to each other?
● What is cohesion and adhesion?
● Why does the pepper spread out?