How does surface tension work on a penny?

When plain water is dropped on a penny, water molecules strongly attract one another and the resulting surface tension is high. This is observed by the bubble-like shape formed by the water as more drops are added to the penny’s surface.

How is surface tension measured in the penny drop lab?

Surface tension refers to water’s ability to stick to itself.” Surface tension can be measured and observed by dropping water onto a penny. The number of water drops that can fit on a penny might surprise you!

How is the surface tension of water affected by soap penny lab?

Adding soap lowers the water’s surface tension so the drop becomes weaker and breaks apart sooner. Making water molecules stick together less is what helps soaps clean dishes and clothes more easily.

How many drops can you pile on a penny lab?

STEP 2: Use an eyedropper or pipette to pick up and carefully drip one drop of water at a time onto the penny. STEP 3: Count how many drops you can fit onto one penny until the water overflows. We were able to get ours up to about 27!

What is a penny lab?

Penny Lab. Description: To measure the mass and volume of a various samples; To determine the density of copper; To make inferences based on collected data.

What is surface tension of water?

Surface tension refers to the ability of a liquid to resist the force of gravity. For example, water forms droplets on a table because the water molecules at the surface group together against the force of gravity. Surface tension is what allows a denser object, such as an insect, to be able to float on the water’s surface.

What is the surface tension of liquids?

Surface tension is a property of a liquid surface that caused by the cohesive force between the same liquid molecules. In a liquid, each molecule within the body of the liquid tends to attracted equally at all directions by the cohesive force, so that it experiences no net force.