Surface Tension - Floating Metals



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 Code Number :   2A10.20 

Disclaimer:

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

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Condition :   Excellent   
Principle :   Surface Tension 
Area of Study :  Heat & Fluids  
Equipment :   Evaporating dish, toothpicks, dishwashing soap, razor-blade, paperclips, needles.

Procedure :   Carefully place the metal objects in the water so that they float.  Place a drop of liquid soap on a toothpick and touch to the surface of the water.  The metal objects should sink as the surface tension is reduced or broken.
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   References

Letters to the Editor, "Quick Way to Float a Paper Clip on Water", TPT, Vol. 46, # 2, Feb. 2008, p. 70.

Renate J. Ondris-Crawford and Lisa R. Hilliard, "It's All on the Surface", TPT, Vol. 35 # 1, Feb. 1997, p. 100.

R.D. Edge,  "A Pointed Demonstration of Surface Tension,"  TPT, Vol. 29, # 6, p. 414, (Sept. 1991).

Ernest K. Chapin, "The Strange World of Surface Film", TPT, Vol. 4, # 6, Sept. 1966, p. 271.

 

 

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.

A. Raymond Penner, "Suspension of a Disk on a Surface of Water", AJP, Vol. 68, # 6, p. 549, June 2000.

 

F- 330:  "Sieve Bucket - Float Needle,"  DICK and RAE Physics Demo Notebook.



Mail Questions and Comments to:  Dale Stille