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It is relatively easy to float a sewing needle on the surface of the water in a glass. The sewing needle is steel, and steel is more dense than water, and should sink. But by carefully placing the needle on the surface of the water (lengthwise), it is not that difficult to make the needle float. It floats due to the surface tension of the water. If you are in the mood to experiment, try a paper clip as well. Make sure there is a little space between the different lengths of the steel so that none of the lengths of the paper clip touch each other. A picture of a floating paper clip can be found in the Wikipedia post linked below. You up for the challenge? Water in a pond or a slow moving stream or river exhibits surface tension that supports a number of organisms (like the oarsman or water strider) that "walk on water" and could not survive without the surface tension of the water for support. Links below are worth the look.
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What do you expect to see if the liquid surface tension is less than or equal to the critical surface tension of a surface?
the lack of a surface.
What is surface tension.?
Surface tension is defined as the elasticlike force that exists at the surface.
What does surface tension have to do wih floating?
surface tension relates with flotation in that the stronger the surface tension, the easier an object will float.
Why is that needle floats in water?
Surface Tension ~ see related link below .
Why the drop of water is always circular in shape?
Surface tension ; see relevant link .
What are three forces acting on a water glider when it is standing on a still pond?
One is "surface tension" which allows the spider to walk on water ; see related link .
What two forces create the meniscus you see at the top of a liquid when you measure it?
the liquid's own surface tension and weight
How do you tell if a colorless liquid is water?
you could pour it out and test to see if there is surface tension. you could put baking soda or detergent in it to see if a reaction happens.
What substance is made by the lungs to help reduce the surface tension of water in the alveolar?
Pulmonary surfactant...see link for more information.
What happens when the high surface tension of water?
Surface tension is the amount of attraction the surface of an object has.Surface tension is easily demonstrated by observing a pool of water. Put your finger in the water and slowly... i mean "slowly"... pull your finger away and you will see the water is actually attracted to your finger and the water will stay on your finger as you pull your finger off the pool of water. This is because of surface tension.Viscosity is the resistance of a liquid flow. A high viscosity means the liquid is thicker and does not move as readily. (And technically solids have an infinite viscosity because they do not "flow").A high viscous liquid would be like syrup.A low viscous liquid would be like water.Now... a high viscous liquid (like syrup) has a higher surface tension than a low viscous liquid. Do the "finger" demonstration with syrup. You will notice that syrup (being more viscous) will actually be attracted to your finger more than water is. Once you put your finger in a pool of syrup and bring it out... more syrup will be still on your finger.If you relate the water and syrup demonstration you will see that a higher viscosity means a greater surface tension and a lower viscosity means a lower surface tension.
Why when a thin layer of water flows along an inclined gutter different wave patterns are sometimes observed?
because water has a surface tension that likes to hold together. How much it takes to hold it together is based on what incline it is on. In this case, wave patterns are observed because the surface tension keeps a larger amount of water in one place, until the weight overcomes the surface tension, and it creates the wave pattern you see.
What would you see if you were on the surface of the moon?
you would see all the planets around it and see the moons ground
