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...
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....
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
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
Making "Cents" of Surface Tension
Students explore the unique behaviors of water. They investigate surface tension using water drops on a penny and pennies dropped in a cup.
Curated OER
The Chemistry of Bigger Bubbles
Fourth graders explore properties of bubbles. In this lesson about bubbles, 4th graders perform an experiment. Students analyze the properties of bubble making substances and surface tension. Students create a square bubble. Students...
Curated OER
Surface Tension
Students examine the concept of surface tension. In this surface tension lesson students complete several experiments to allow them to better understand surface tension.
Curated OER
Surface Tension On Coins
Pupils drop water onto clean coins to determine the tension of each coin and then to graph their findings.
Curated OER
Science Experiments
Pupils do a series of three experiments. In the first experiment, the students work with a partner to protect an egg from a 12 foot drop. In the second experiment, the pupils investigate static electricity using balloons and yarn. In...
Curated OER
How Many Drops?
Seventh graders hypothesize about the number of drops of liquid that can be placed on a penny before it spills over. They examine both the concept of devising a hypothesis and the idea of surface tension. They determine the difference...
Curated OER
Take a Dip: Sticky Water
Students complete lab activities to investigate the "sticky" properties of water, such as surface tension and capillary action, due to the polarity of the molecules.
Curated OER
Barge Building: What Floats Your Boat?
Students construct aluminum foil boats that float while holding the greatest number of pennies. They investigate the concept of water displacement, record their results, and watch a Bill Nye video on buoyancy.
Curated OER
Earth & Space Science: Holding it Together
Students estimate how many drops of water can fit onto the surface of a penny and then test their hypothesis to find out. They also experiment with bubbles.
Curated OER
Redwood Trees: How Does Water Get to the Top of the Tree
Students discuss photosynthesis. They explore and discuss surface tension, hydrogen bonding and capillary action with hands on experiments. They make journal entries and draw pictures of the different stages of the experiments.
Curated OER
Drops on a Penny
Eighth graders experiment to determine the number of drops of water a heads up penny hold. They create a stem and leaf graph of the class results and use the data for further experimentation on a tails up penny.
Curated OER
How Many Drops?
Students conduct a simple test to determine how many drops of each of three liquids can be placed on a penny before spilling over. They come up with an explanation for their observations about different amounts of liquids a penny can hold.
University of South Florida
Fcat: Drops on a Penny: Teacher Notes
Students learn how to create stem-and-leaf diagrams and boxplots by collecting data on the surface tension of water molecules. This hands-on activity using pennies is a great way to learn how to organize data.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: How Many Drops?
In this lesson and its associated activity, students conduct a simple test to determine how many drops of each of three liquids can be placed on a penny before spilling over. The three liquids are water, rubbing alcohol, and vegetable...