2A10.69 - Surface Tension - Water Down a String

Tape the string over the mouth of the beaker so that the string hangs down from the opposite edge. Wet the string thoroughly.
Put water in the beaker, and using the string as a guide for the water, pour it out into another glass or beaker. The water can be poured quite fast and it will still follow the string.
Code Number:
2A10.69
Demo Title:
Surface Tension - Water Down a String
Condition:
Excellent
Principle:
Surface Tension of water pouring down a string
Area of Study:
Heat & Fluids

Disclaimer

Equipment:
1000 ml beaker, large diameter string.
Procedure:

Tape the string over the mouth of the beaker so that the string hangs down from the opposite edge.  Wet the string thoroughly. Put water in the beaker, and using the string as a guide for the water, pour it out into another glass or beaker.  The water can be poured quite fast and it will still follow the string.  NOTE: The string does not have to hang out from the beaker spout to make this work. 

References:
  • Martin Gardner, "Water Down the String", TPT, Vol. 39, # 1, Jan. 2001, p. 36.
  • Charles Vivian, "Capillary Filtering", Science Experiments & Amusements For Children, p. 87.
  • Martin Gardner, "6, Water Down The String", Smart Science Tricks, p. 16.
  • Martin Gardner, "Capillary Siphon", Entertaining Science Experiments with Everyday Objects, p. 115.
  • Vicki Cobb and Kathy Darling, "Water on a Tightrope", Bet You Can!, p. 73.
  • Janice VanCleave, "88, Hula Skirt", Teaching the Fun of Physics, p. 132.
  • Bobby Mercer, "Unspillable Water", Junk Drawer Physics, p. 169.
  • Borislaw Bilash II, “Water Delivery“, A Demo A Day – A Year of Physical Science Demonstrations, p. 128.

Disclaimer: These demonstrations are provided only for illustrative use by persons affiliated with The University of Iowa and only under the direction of a trained instructor or physicist.  The University of Iowa is not responsible for demonstrations performed by those using their own equipment or who choose to use this reference material for their own purpose.  The demonstrations included here are within the public domain and can be found in materials contained in libraries, bookstores, and through electronic sources.  Performing all or any portion of any of these demonstrations, with or without revisions not depicted here entails inherent risks.  These risks include, without limitation, bodily injury (and possibly death), including risks to health that may be temporary or permanent and that may exacerbate a pre-existing medical condition; and property loss or damage.  Anyone performing any part of these demonstrations, even with revisions, knowingly and voluntarily assumes all risks associated with them.