Materials:
· A clear glass
· Water
· 10-12 coins of the same size
Method:
1. Fill a clear glass with water all the way to the brim. You’ll notice that the water hangs slightly over the top of the glass but doesn’t spill out just yet.
2. Carefully add coins one at a time into the glass, dropping them in rim first (not face down).
3. Add as many coins as you can before water starts to dribble out the side of the cup.
Why and how is it doing this?
You’ll notice that when you fill up the glass that the water doesn’t quite spill over the side. This is because of surface tension’s elastic-like cover which acts against what would normally cause the water to fall – gravity – because each molecule of water is attracted to the other water molecules around it. When you drop the coins in, the molecules hold together until they can’t resist gravity and longer, breaking the surface tension and dribbles down the side of the glass.
· A clear glass
· Water
· 10-12 coins of the same size
Method:
1. Fill a clear glass with water all the way to the brim. You’ll notice that the water hangs slightly over the top of the glass but doesn’t spill out just yet.
2. Carefully add coins one at a time into the glass, dropping them in rim first (not face down).
3. Add as many coins as you can before water starts to dribble out the side of the cup.
Why and how is it doing this?
You’ll notice that when you fill up the glass that the water doesn’t quite spill over the side. This is because of surface tension’s elastic-like cover which acts against what would normally cause the water to fall – gravity – because each molecule of water is attracted to the other water molecules around it. When you drop the coins in, the molecules hold together until they can’t resist gravity and longer, breaking the surface tension and dribbles down the side of the glass.