Breadcrumb
2A10.20 - Surface Tension - Floating Metals


Code Number: 2A10.20
Demo Title: Surface Tension - Floating Metals
Condition: Excellent
Principle: Surface Tension
Area of Study: 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.
References:
- Francisco Jose Torcal-Milla, "Can 1 kg of Iron Float on Water", TPT, Vol. 61, #8, Nov. 2023, p. 644.
- Letters to the Editor, "Quick Way to Float a Paper Clip on Water", TPT, Vol. 46, # 2, Feb. 2008, p. 70.
- Paul J. Dolan Jr., Charles W. Smith, "Tokar's Question: Surface Tension vs Buoyancy, TPT, Vol. 39, #2, Feb. 2001, p. 69.
- Wojciech Dindorf, "Tokar's Question", TPT, Vol. 38, # 8, Nov. 2000, p. 488.
- 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.
- Antonin Marchand et al, "Why is Surface Tension a Force Parallel to the Interface?", AJP, Vol. 79, # 10, Oct. 2011, p. 999.
- S. Straulino, C. M. C. Gambi, A. Righini, "Experiments on Buoyancy and Surface Tension Following Galileo Galilei", AJP, Vol. 79, # 1, p. 32, Jan. 2011.
- 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.
- John W. M. Bush, David L. Hu, "Walking on Water", Physics Today, June 2010, p. 62.
- George M. Hopkins', "Surface Tension", Experimental Science, Volume Two, p. 229.
- Charles Vivian, "Testing the Skin of Water", Science Experiments & Amusements For Children, p. 20.
- Pat Murphy, Ellen Macaulay, and the staff of the Exploratorium, "Sink or Swim", Exploratopia, p. 108.
- Martin Gardner, "Two 10-Cent Betchas", Science Tricks, p. 10.
- Martin Gardner, "17, A Floating Coin", Smart Science Tricks, p. 30.
- F- 330: "Sieve Bucket - Float Needle", DICK and RAE Physics Demo Notebook.
- Bobby Mercer, "Mysterious Floating Paper Clip" Junk Drawer Chemistry, 2016, p. 30.
- W. Bolton, "Wetting Agents", Book I - Properties of Materials, Physics Experiments and Projects, 1968, p. 22.
- Herb Strongin, “Floating a Needle That No One Else Can“, Science on a Shoestring, p. 5.