Home Education Academic Program School - category-science-miscellaneous-preschool-years-3-4-5-helping-your-child-learn-science-in-the-home-breaking-the-tension.

These simple activities demonstrate surface tension. Surface tension results when the hydrogen in water molecules stick to one another as well as to the water below them. This creates a strong but flexible film on the water's surface. The detergent disrupts the molecules and "breaks the tension," making the boat go forward and the pepper move to the sides of the glass.

What You Need

Index card
Safety scissors
Sink filled with water
Glass half filled with water
Liquid dishwashing detergent
Ground pepper < !!! >
Toothpicks

What to Do

From an index card, cut out a boat shape, like the one on this page. Make the boat about 2-1/2 inches long and 1-1/2 inches wide. Have your child place the boat gently on the water in the sink. Have him pour a little detergent at the notch end of the boat. Ask him to describe what happens. (Note: To repeat this experiment, you'll need to use fresh water to make the boat move.)
Next, sprinkle a little ground pepper on the water in the glass. Give your child a toothpick and tell him to dip it in the middle of the pepper. Ask him what happens. Then tell him to put a drop of the detergent on another toothpick and dip it into the pepper. Now what happens?

Information source: U.S. Department of Education - Helping Your Child Learn Science

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