American Chemical Society
Surface Tension
A drop of dew holds a sphere shape even when sitting on a seat thanks to the surface tension of water. Learners observe the phenomena of surface tension in water. Through demonstrations, hands-on activities, and discussions they explore...
Beyond Benign
Breaking the Tension
The tension builds as learners experiment in your classroom. The 17th installment in a 24-part series has scholars investigate the concept of surface tension. After discovering characteristics of surface tension, they add a compound...
Curated OER
Call Me Bond, Hydrogen Bond
As amazing as James Bond is, the surface tension of water does not allow him to walk on it! In this series of little lab activities, physical scientists play with the properties of water due to the hydrogen bonds and resulting polarity....
American Chemical Society
Look-Alike Liquids
Here is the first of four experiments to differentiate among unknown liquids by their behaviors and properties. Pupils observe how different liquids respond to being placed on plastic and paper, and they take notes about their...
Curated OER
Fun with Surface Tension!
Students explore physical science by participating in a water properties experiment. In this surface tension lesson, students utilize pennies, water, a dropper and soapy water to test the different surface tensions with numerous objects....
Curated OER
Discovering Cohesion, Adhesion and Surface Tension
Students investigate cohesion, adhesion and surface tension through observations and lab experiments. In this cohesion, adhesion and surface tension lesson plan, students rotate to 5 stations around the room and experiment at each...
Curated OER
Water
Students conduct a series of investigations on the unique properties of water. For this general science lesson, students explain what causes water's surface tension. They explain the different stages in the water cycle.
Curated OER
Surface Tension
Students view demonstrations that illustrate the surface tension of water. In this properties of water instructional activity, students observe demonstrations that show how water exhibits surface tension. They explain how the...
National Institute of Open Schooling
The Liquid State
Due to surface tension, dew — a liquid, is spherical in shape. Learners explore the properties of liquids in activity seven in this series of 36. Beginning with its basic properties such as boiling point and moving through to surface...
Curated OER
Surface Tension and 3D Soap Films
Students are introduced to the concept of surface tension, its dependence on material composition, and how it can produce uniquely shaped surfaces.
Curated OER
Surface Tension
Students study surface tension and determine if soap and heat will affect surface tension. In this tension lesson students complete a lab, make a hypothesis and answer questions.
Curated OER
Surface Tension (Soap Boat)
Learners investigate the affect of soap and water temperature on surface tension.
National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network
How Dry am I? Exploring Biomimicry and Nanotechnology
Help your classes feel like they can walk on water! An engaging inquiry-based lesson has young scholars experiment with different surface coatings. They make observations about their properties and how they relate to the surface tension...
Curated OER
Let's Get Fizzical
Students investigate surface tension in water. In this water molecules and surface tension lesson, students observe 3 demonstrations to show how water molecules are attracted to one another, how soap reduces the surface tension in water...
Exploratorium
Bubble Tray
Create jumbo bubbles and use them to teach about surface tension or interference, perfect for a physical science lesson on light or molecular attraction.
Curated OER
Effects of Water Pollution on Aquatic Organisms
Young scholars investigate water pollution. They develop an understanding of the behavior of organisms, of the structure and properties of matter, and of natural and human induced hazards by conducting lab tests. They present their data...
Curated OER
Wet Pennies
Young scholars conduct a simple test to determine how many drops of water, rubbing alcohol and vegetable oil can be placed on a penny before spilling over. They consider how varying surface tensions allow for different amounts of each...
Curated OER
Water Unit
Students make boats and race them. In this physics lesson plan, students investigate surface tension, molecules, and cohesion by competing in a class race with their boats. Students experiment with liquid soap to see how much will make...
Curated OER
Water Cycle
Young scientists explore Earth elements by conducting an experiment. They define water vocabulary terms such as condensation and precipitation. In addition, they conduct a water experiment in which they build a terrarium, so they can...
Curated OER
Molecular Forces at Work: Creating Soap Bubbles
Learners investigate adhesion, cohesion and surface tension. In this molecular forces lesson plan, students observe multiple demonstrations that show surface tension, the attraction of water molecules to each other and the ability of...
Teach Engineering
Penny Perfect Properties (Solid-Liquid Interations)
I can get more water to stay on a penny than you can! Collaborative pairs determine the volume of liquids that can be contained on the surface of copper pennies and plastic coins. The pairs analyze their results using graphs and go on to...
Curated OER
Drops on a Penny
For this surface tension worksheet, students predict how many drops of water they can put on a coin. They test their hypothesis and repeat their experiment three times. They record their data and average their trials.
Curated OER
Surface Tension-Driven Flows
Learners learn how surface tension changes can cause fluids to flow.
Curated OER
Propel a Toy Boat with Chemicals
A simple cardboard or plastic boat is propelled across the surface of water when the surface tension is disrupted by adding detergent. Once youngsters see this in action, explain about the properties of water that make it possilbe:...