Name: Grade & Section Date

Laboratory Activity

Surface Tension of Water

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 more drops that fit onto the penny means a greater
surface tension. the fewer drops means a lower surface tension.

Initial observation: Observe surface tension by seeing how many drops of water can fit onto a penny.

Number of drops _____

Step 1: Rinse a penny in tap water and dry completely.

Step 2: Place the penny on paper towel.
Step 3: Use an eye dropper to place drops of WATER on the penny (one at a time) until ANY amount of
water runs over the edge of the penny.

Step 4: Record the number of drops for that trial in the table.

Repeat Steps 1 - 4 three more times before calculating your average

Initial observation: Observe surface tension by seeing how many drops of water can fit onto a penny.

Number of drops _____

Step 1: Rinse a penny in tap water and dry completely.

Step 2: Put a little amount of dishwashing liquid onto the surface of the penny.

Step 3: Use an eye dropper to place drops of WATER on the penny (one at a time) until ANY amount of
water runs over the edge of the penny.

Step 4: Record the number of drops for that trial in the table.

Questions:

Which of the penny held more water?

What property of water enables one to put so many drops on the penny?

What is the average number of drops per trial?

How close was your hypothesis to the average per trial?

What causes the water on the surface to form big droplet?

How did diswashing liquid affect the surface tension of water? Be sure to use your data to support your
answer.