Raising Dragons: Magic Pepper Experiment
This simple experiment explores what happens when we change the surface tension of water.
All you need are some black pepper flakes, water and dish soap. Sprinkle black pepper flakes into the water and note how they float on top. Then dip your finger into a bit of dish soap, touch your finger to the water and watch the flakes instantly move to the edge. The reason for this is that water normally bulges up a bit. When dish soap is added it lowers the surface tension of the water and the water wants to spread out and as the water flattens on the dish it carries the pepper flakes to the edge.
ages 3 – 8
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This simple experiment explores what happens when we change the surface tension of water.
All you need are some black pepper flakes, water and dish soap. Sprinkle black pepper flakes into the water and note how they float on top. Then dip your finger into a bit of dish soap, touch your finger to the water and watch the flakes instantly move to the edge. The reason for this is that water normally bulges up a bit. When dish soap is added it lowers the surface tension of the water and the water wants to spread out and as the water flattens on the dish it carries the pepper flakes to the edge.
ages 3 – 8