Curated OER
Drops on a Penny
A helpful worksheet describes an interesting demonstration on the surface tension of water. Learners guess how many drops of water the heads side of a penny will hold. This resource does a great job of describing just how a penny can...
American Chemical Society
Surface Tension
A drop of dew holds a sphere shape even when sitting on a seat thanks to the surface tension of water. Learners observe the phenomena of surface tension in water. Through demonstrations, hands-on activities, and discussions they explore...
Curated OER
Fun with Surface Tension!
Students explore physical science by participating in a water properties experiment. In this surface tension lesson, students utilize pennies, water, a dropper and soapy water to test the different surface tensions with numerous objects....
Teach Engineering
Penny Perfect Properties (Solid-Liquid Interations)
I can get more water to stay on a penny than you can! Collaborative pairs determine the volume of liquids that can be contained on the surface of copper pennies and plastic coins. The pairs analyze their results using graphs and go on to...
Curated OER
Drops of Water On a Penny
In this science learning exercise, learners learn about surface tension by performing an investigation with drops of clean and soapy water on a penny.
Curated OER
Wet Pennies
Students conduct a simple test to determine how many drops of water, rubbing alcohol and vegetable oil can be placed on a penny before spilling over. They consider how varying surface tensions allow for different amounts of each liquid...
Curated OER
Drops on a Penny
In this surface tension activity, students predict how many drops of water they can put on a coin. They test their hypothesis and repeat their experiment three times. They record their data and average their trials.
Curated OER
Making "Cents" of Surface Tension
Students explore the unique behaviors of water. They investigate surface tension using water drops on a penny and pennies dropped in a cup.
Teach Engineering
Balancing Liquid on a Coin: How Intermolecular Forces Work
Let knowledge of chemistry flow like water. Future scientists conduct two different experiments to investigate the properties of water. They learn about surface tension and cohesion as they see how many drops of water they can place on a...
Curated OER
The Chemistry of Bigger Bubbles
Fourth graders explore properties of bubbles. In this instructional activity about bubbles, 4th graders perform an experiment. Students analyze the properties of bubble making substances and surface tension. Students create a square...
Curated OER
How Many Drops of H2o Can Fit on a Penny?
In this properties of water worksheet, students explore the surface tension and cohesion properties of water compared to other liquids in a 2 part experiment.
Curated OER
Surface Tension
Students examine the concept of surface tension. In this surface tension lesson students complete several experiments to allow them to better understand surface tension.
Curated OER
Surface Tension On Coins
Students drop water onto clean coins to determine the tension of each coin and then to graph their findings.
Curated OER
Science Experiments
Students do a series of three experiments. In the first experiment, the students work with a partner to protect an egg from a 12 foot drop. In the second experiment, the students investigate static electricity using balloons and yarn. ...
Curated OER
How Many Drops?
Seventh graders hypothesize about the number of drops of liquid that can be placed on a penny before it spills over. They examine both the concept of devising a hypothesis and the idea of surface tension. They determine the difference...
American Chemical Society
Evaporation Sensation
Where did the water go? Learners conduct an experiment to see how the difference in temperature affects evaporation rates. Scholars continue to investigate evaporation by comparing water and alcohol evaporation rates. Pupils experiment...
Curated OER
Take a Dip: Sticky Water
Students complete lab activities to investigate the "sticky" properties of water, such as surface tension and capillary action, due to the polarity of the molecules.
Curated OER
Barge Building: What Floats Your Boat?
Students construct aluminum foil boats that float while holding the greatest number of pennies. They investigate the concept of water displacement, record their results, and watch a Bill Nye video on buoyancy.
Curated OER
Earth & Space Science: Holding it Together
Students estimate how many drops of water can fit onto the surface of a penny and then test their hypothesis to find out. They also experiment with bubbles.
Illinois Valley Community College
STEM Activities for Middle School Students
Use STEM activities within the class to provide connections to concepts. The resource includes activities that range from working with buoyancy to building rockets and launching them. Other activities involve the engineering design...
Curated OER
Redwood Trees: How Does Water Get to the Top of the Tree
Students discuss photosynthesis. They explore and discuss surface tension, hydrogen bonding and capillary action with hands on experiments. They make journal entries and draw pictures of the different stages of the experiments.
Curated OER
How Many Drops?
Middle schoolers conduct a simple test to determine how many drops of each of three liquids can be placed on a penny before spilling over. They come up with an explanation for their observations about different amounts of liquids a penny...