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 examine the concept of surface tension. In this surface tension instructional activity students complete several experiments to allow them to better understand surface tension.
Curated OER
Surface Tension Grabbers
Students explore why surface tension is such a very important biological concept. Determination is made on why the myriad of biota that interacts at the air-water interface are vital components of aquatic and marine ecosystems. They...
Curated OER
The Challenge of Ice and Water
High schoolers work in teams to solve a variety of challenges involving water. They move an ice cube from one glass to another without touching the ice or the glass. They move water from one glass to another and they estimate the number...
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
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
Surface Tension On Coins
Students drop water onto clean coins to determine the tension of each coin and then to graph their findings.
Curated OER
Surface Tension-Driven Flows
Young scholars learn how surface tension changes can cause fluids to flow.
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Build a Motorboat Powered by Surface Tension
If you look carefully, you could find dozens of similar interesting phenomena that are all linked to the surface tension of water. Here is a project that will help you understand and measure the properties of water surface tension.
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Measuring the Surface Tension of Water
Did you know that when you dip your finger in water and pull it out, the water is actually pulling back on you? Here's a way you can measure how much.
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Measuring Surface Tension of Water With a Penny
Have you ever wondered what makes water 'bead' up on a freshly waxed car? In this project you'll investigate the chemistry of surface tension by measuring how many drops of water a penny can hold.
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Bubble Ology
Making your own bubble solution is fun, but sometimes the bubbles don't seem to work as well as the solutions you buy in the store. In this experiment you can test if adding corn syrup or glycerin to your bubble solution will make it...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Walking on Water How Do Water Striders Do It?
In this interactive demonstration, students investigate surface tension by enabling a paper model of a water strider to stay on the surface of water.
American Chemical Society
Middle School Chemistry: Chapter 5: The Water Molecule and Dissolving
Nine exemplary chemistry lessons about the water molecule and dissolving complete with handouts and animations.
Vision Learning
Visionlearning: Physical States and Properties: Water: Properties and Behavior
Information relating to the properties of water and its behavior.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Liquids
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] In the following online tutorial students will describe a liquid according to the kinetic-molecular theory. They will also learn how a liquid exhibits surface...
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Water Properties
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] In the following online tutorial students will describe the structure and polarity of a water molecule. They will also describe the hydrogen bonding that occurs in...
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Properties of Water
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] In this learning module, students will investigate the chemical and physical properties of the unique and important substance, water.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Break the Tension
Students learn about and experiment with the concept of surface tension. How can a paper clip "float" on top of water? How can a paper boat be powered by soap in water? How do water striders "walk" on top of water? Why do engineers care...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Surface Tension Lab
Students extend their understanding of surface tension by exploring the real-world engineering problem of deciding what makes a "good" soap bubble. Student teams first measure this property, and then use this measurement to determine the...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Exploring Capillary Action
Students observe multiple examples of capillary action. First they observe the shape of a glass-water meniscus and explain its shape in terms of the adhesive attraction of the water to the glass. Then they study capillary tubes and...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Measuring Surface Tension
Students observe capillary action in glass tubes of varying sizes. Then they use the capillary action to calculate the surface tension in each tube. They find the average surface tensions and calculate the statistical errors.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Investigating Contact Angle
Students observe how water acts differently when placed on hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces. They determine which coatings are best to cause surfaces to shed water quickly or reduce the "fogging" caused by condensation.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Exploring the Lotus Effect
Students test and observe the "self-cleaning" lotus effect using a lotus leaf and cloth treated with a synthetic lotus-like superhydrophobic coating. They also observe the Wenzel and Cassie Baxter wetting states by creating and...