Curated and Reviewed by
Lesson Planet
This Observing Water's Thin 'Skin' activity also includes:
- Observing Water's Thin 'Skin' (.html)
- Lab & Experiment
- Worksheet
- Join to access all included materials
Keep the tension up in the classroom. The class first observes as the teacher creates a dome of water above a glass by adding paperclips into an already full glass. Classmates then work in pairs to see how many drops of water can fit onto a coin. The activity finishes up with the teacher demonstrating how soap reduces surface tension using pepper with water and food coloring with milk.
3 Views
2 Downloads
Concepts
Additional Tags
Instructional Ideas
- Show a video of an insect walking across the surface of water to show an example of the effects of surface tension
- Demonstrate how the surface tension of water is enough to float a needle
Classroom Considerations
- A penny can be used instead of the 10 cent coin as described in the activity
Pros
- Provides a record-keeping sheet for students to use
- Includes pictures of different portions of the investigation
Cons
- None
Start Your Free Trial
Save time and discover engaging curriculum for your classroom. Reviewed and rated by trusted, credentialed teachers.
Try It Free