answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

The oil on their feet is strong enough to repel the water and there weight is spread out enough that when their feet touch the water, the oil and the water repel each other like when you pour oil on water the oil floats on the top... same principle

User Avatar

Wiki User

βˆ™ 12y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar
More answers
User Avatar

Wiki User

βˆ™ 9y ago

Surface tension allows some small insects to walk on water. Surface tension is the force that holds water molecules together, and it tends to be strongest at the surface. In order to have the ability to use surface tension to walk on water, an insect must have dense leg hairs that provide some water resistance.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

βˆ™ 13y ago

Surface tension of the water is greater than the the downward force of gravity on the insect.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

βˆ™ 11y ago

The water tension supports their weight.

This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: How are small insects able to walk on the surface of water?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Continue Learning about Zoology

Which property of water allows insects to walk on water?

Certain insects (ones with a very light weight) are able to walk on water as their weight does not break the surface tension of the water. Water has a very high surface tension, therefore easily breaking and not supporting weight above a certain limit.


What are the insects that use their skin to walk across thd surface of the stream?

Insects that are able to walk across the surface of water are called water striders. Water striders make use of the high surface tension of water together with their long, hydrophobic legs to stay above water.


Which animal is able to see clearly above below water simultaneously?

The archerfish is capable of seeing below and above the water clearly. It uses this vision to accurately launch a jet of water at insects flying above the water's surface.


Why some insects can walk on water without sinking?

most insects can not float on water, but it depends. A bee will drown if it gets its wings in the water (along with most, if not all, winged insects), but some insects are specifically made to stand on water and catch gnats that are around.


How small insects such as the pond skater can walk on water?

The cohesive forces between liquid molecules are responsible for the phenomenon known as surface tension. The molecules at the surface of a glass of water do not have other water molecules on all sides of them and consequently they cohere more strongly to those directly associated with them (in this case, next to and below them, but not above). It is not really true that a "skin" forms on the water surface; the stronger cohesion between the water molecules as opposed to the attraction of the water molecules to the air makes it more difficult to move an object through the surface than to move it when it is completely submersed. Pond skating insects reveal water-walking secrets as they effortlessly skip across the surface leaving nothing but a tiny ripple in their wake, according to a new study. The insects use the middle of their three pairs of legs to row across the water, creating vortices with the tiny hairs that cover their legs, similar to the swirling vortices created just beneath the surface by am oar when it slices the water that twist away and propel the boat forward. The hairs, the only part of the insect’s body that penetrates the water, are covered in a waxy substance that keeps water out by allowing bubbles to attach to them which have drawn the attention of materials scientists looking for a permanent waterproofing material that doesn’t wash off. With these two combined, this is how the insect can walk on water

Related questions

Which property of water allows insects to walk on water?

Certain insects (ones with a very light weight) are able to walk on water as their weight does not break the surface tension of the water. Water has a very high surface tension, therefore easily breaking and not supporting weight above a certain limit.


What are the insects that use their skin to walk across thd surface of the stream?

Insects that are able to walk across the surface of water are called water striders. Water striders make use of the high surface tension of water together with their long, hydrophobic legs to stay above water.


Why are some insects able to move around on the surface of a lake or pond?

Some insects are able to move around on a lake or pond because of the surface tension of the lake or pond.


The ability of some organisms to be able to walk on water is due to which property of water NAME the property?

The property of water allowing some insects and other animals to walk on its surface is called "surface tension".


An insect is able to walk across the surface of a pond without sinking because of the?

Insects are able to walk across bodies of water without sinking because of their weight. Insects weigh literally nothing.


How can small insects such as pond skater walk onwater?

Water has a retention rate, if the insect it lighter than what it would take to break the retention then it would be able to float on the surface without being submerged.


Of what advantage is the floating behavior of a bullfrog?

The advantage of floating to a bullfrog means that they are able to collect insects off the surface of the water. Bullfrogs eat insects as large as dragonflies.


How does surface tension helps organisms?

Surface tension helps organisms in the sense that it allows for a wide variety of biological phenomena. For instance, some water insects are able to walk on water due to surface tension.


Which animal is able to see clearly above below water simultaneously?

The archerfish is capable of seeing below and above the water clearly. It uses this vision to accurately launch a jet of water at insects flying above the water's surface.


Why is an insect able to walk across the surface of a pond without sinking?

Insects that have the ability to walk on water have feet that are spread very far apart. This allows their weight to be distributed over a larger area and stops them from breaking the surface tension of water molecules sticking together.


How can a mosquito walk on water?

There are several insects that can walk on water due to the water's surface tension. There are over 300 species of water striders that are able to walk on water, as well as several species of ant.


Why some insects can walk on water without sinking?

most insects can not float on water, but it depends. A bee will drown if it gets its wings in the water (along with most, if not all, winged insects), but some insects are specifically made to stand on water and catch gnats that are around.