Submerged Float



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 Code Number :   2A10.15

Disclaimer:

Reprinted by permission of Dick Berg, University of Maryland, for use on this website.

The demonstrations contained and referenced herein are listed for the purposes of cataloging and describing physics demonstrations which should be conducted only under the direction of a trained instructional support professional or physicist. These demonstrations are not presented for the purpose of being conducted by persons unconnected to this Facility and/or persons not consulting with or being supervised by the recognized instructional support professional or physicist and his/her staff. The University is responsible only for those demonstrations carried out using its own equipment using established safety and scheduling policies, and bears no responsibility for those choosing to use this source material for their own purposes. All demonstrations described and contained herein are public domain, and can also be found in reference materials in libraries, bookstores, and electronic sources.

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Condition :   Excellent   
Principle :   Surface Tension 
Area of Study :  Heat & Fluids  
Equipment :   Submerged float apparatus, Plexiglas box with water.
Procedure :   The device is weighted so that it floats half way out of the water.  If you press the device into the water and release slowly the surface tension on the circular wire at the top will hold the device under water.  Breaking the surface tension will allow the device to float half way out of the water again.  The surface tension can be broken by adding a drop of soap or by blowing into the circular wire/water surface.
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   References
W. C. Thoburn, "The Origin of Surface Tension in Liquids", TPT, Vol. 15, # 4. Apr. 1977, p. 234.

 

J. Pellicer, V. Garcia-Morales, L. Gaunter, M. J. Hernandez, and M. Doiz, "On the Experimental Value of the Water Surface Tension Used in Some Textbooks", AJP, Vol. 70, # 7, July 2002, p. 705.

S. Y. Mak and K. Y. Wong,  "The Measurement of Surface Tension by the Method of Direct Pull,"  AJP, Vol. 58, No. 8, (August 1990).



Mail Questions and Comments to:  Dale Stille