Lesson Plan

Capillarity – Measuring Surface Tension

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet

How do cohesion and adhesion work together? The third installment of a nine-part series teaches young scientists the difference between adhesion and cohesion. They also learn how cohesion and adhesion work together to cause capillary action.

1 Collection 23 Views 9 Downloads NGSS: Designed
Instructional Ideas
  • Have learners brainstorm different examples of capillary action in a journal entry
Classroom Considerations
  • Be sure to use the two activities associated with this lesson (fourth and fifth installments of the series)
  • Though not indicated in the materials section, a glass of water, food coloring, and paper towels are necessary for the demonstration
  • Participants need to have experience with the cosine function in order to understand the given equations
Pros
  • Includes easily decipherable diagrams
Cons
  • No handouts or worksheets for the lesson portion are included
NGSS