Rectangular Callout: Now that you know all about surface tension, let’s do some more experiments that show you the presence and properties of surface tension.  For this next experiment you will need to fill up the petri dish with water.  Next, sprinkle the surface of the water with pepper.  Now gently touch the water with a piece of soap.  What happens?


 

Rectangular Callout: Did the pepper “jump” away?

Rectangular Callout: The reason the pepper jumps away is because the soap is breaking the surface tension of the water and when this happens the pepper “jumps” to the side.

Rectangular Callout: This next experiment is one of my favorites.  First fill a baking dish with water (half-full).  Now cut a boat out of foil like the one in the picture below.  Make sure the foil is very smooth and flat.  Put the boat on top of the water.  Using the dropper add one drop of liquid soap in the little notch at the backside of the boat.  What happens?


 


 

Text Box: Soap goes here