Enjoy, below is a little bit more about surface tension!
Introduction to Surface Tension: Surface tension is when the surface of a liquid, where the liquid is in contact with gas, acts like a thin elastic sheet. This term is typically used only when the liquid surface is in contact with gas. (Such as the air) If the surface is between two liquids, (Such as water and oil) it is called "interface tension." How Surface Tension Works: Each individual water molecule has one large oxygen atom and two smaller hydrogen atoms. The hydrogen atoms hold a slightly negative charge, making the entire water molecule polar. These hydrogen atoms "reach out" to the oxygen atoms from other water molecules, creating hydrogen bonds within the water. Each water molecule experiences a pull from other water molecules from every direction, but water molecules at the surface do not have molecules above the surface of the water to pull at them. These water molecules have more pull from the water below than the surface above. This difference in force draws the water molecules at the surface together, forming a sort of thin, invisible film on the surface of a liquid. Known as surface tension. How Surface Tension Is Measured: Surface tension is measured in SI units of N/m. (Newton per meter) the most common unit is the CGS unit dyn/cm (Dyne per centimeter).
Example: Insects walking on water: Several insects are able to walk on water, such as the water strider. God made there legs to distribute their weight, causing the surface of the liquid to become depressed, minimizing the potential energy (Energy stored in an object) to create a balance of forces so that the strider can move across the surface of the water without breaking through the surface. This is similar in concept to wearing snow shoes to walk across deep snowdrifts without your feet sinking.
Wasps: If there are allot of wasps outside (And there thirsty) you can see them drinking out of a pond, lake, ECT. They can "Float" on the water because of the water tension. (As seen above) If you take a pan of water and some soap they will sink to the bottom of the pan when they land on the water. This is because the soap breaks the surface tension.
How Does Soap (Detergent) Break Surface Tension: Detergent and soap share their properties, except the source of oil in them. Many soaps use natural fats while detergents use refined petroleum. Soap and detergent molecules have two ends which act as a bridge between water molecules and grease (Fat) molecules. This allows the soap or detergent to grab onto the grease from a dirty dish and use the other end of the detergent molecule to latch on to water to be washed away. Detergent molecules two ends make it able to break through the surface tension of water. The end of the detergent molecule which attaches to fat (Grease) tries to avoid being around water molecules. It is known as hydrophobic, meaning water fearing. By attempting to move away from the water molecules, the hydrophobic ends of the detergent molecules push up to the surface. This weakens the hydrogen bonds holding the water molecules together at the surface. The result is a break in the surface tension of the water.
Surface Tension Experiment:
You will need:
*A Large Bowl
*Water
*A Small Piece Of Bar Soap
*Pepper
*Napkin (Or Square Of Toilet Paper)
*Paper Clip
How to Do: Put some water into your bowl. (Make sure you have an inch or two of water) Then place you napkin or toilet paper on top of the water. Quickly, before the paper, sinks place your paper clip on top of your napkin or toilet paper square. The gently push around your paper clip to sink the paper. Hopefully your paper clip is now floating on top of the water, due to surface tension! Now for a little more fun perform the following steps! Take your soap and chase the paper clip around! Put allot of pepper in the bowl of water. (After the soap has once touched your water it is contaminated so you will need new water) Then take your some and place it in the middle. The pepper will "Fly" away from the soap the second it touches the water! Why? Well, the pepper moves to the sides, but not under its own power. Not all the molecules have been broken up by the soap, only some have. Imagine a large group of people all holding hands and pulling lightly on each other. The soap makes some of those people break their hold. The rest are still holding and pulling. The people whose holds are broken will feel a pull towards one direction, and no pull towards the other. They'll get tugged to the sides. That's what's happening to the water molecules, and they're taking the pepper flakes with them as they're pulled aside.
Loading...
2:10
Surface Tension Experimentby ZoinksTV1,973 views
Thank you so much for sharing it. I learnt from it.
thecauseway1 7 months ago
@thecauseway1 Your welcome! I'm very glad it helped you out. :-)
sciencechemistrygirl 7 months ago