Research question

What I want to do:

Build a Raft Powered by Surface Tension

Where: Anywhere

When: It takes less than a week

Why:  It seems Interesting and it is manageable, feasible and Accessible.

Who: My group

Which:  Project is to Build a Raft Powered by Surface Tension

How:

Procedure located here:

http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_ideas/Phys_p010.shtml#procedure

Materials Suggested:

• Kitchen sponges (2)
• Scissors
• Ruler, metric
• Transparencies, like those used on an overhead projector (2); available at your local office supply store
• Marker
• Toothpicks (1 box)
• Tape
• Large basin or sink
  • It should be large enough that the raft can travel a short distance within it.
  • Make sure it can be easily emptied, as you will be filling and re-filling it with fresh water often.
• Water
• Eye dropper; available at your local pharmacy
• Liquid laundry detergent
• Other substances to test their affect on water surface tension (try at least four):
  • Liquid hand soap
  • Toothpaste
  • Vegetable oil
  • Table salt
  • Corn starch, vinegar, or any other substances you want to test
• Lab notebook

Terms and Concepts

• Resistance
• Surface tension
• Molecule
• Cohesive forces
• Polar molecules
• Hydrophilic
• Surfactants

Questions to ponder about:

• What causes the surface tension of water?
• How do surfactants decrease the surface tension of water?
• What do you think will happen to an object floating on the surface of water if the surface tension decreases?
• What happens to water molecules when a drop of surfactant is put in the middle of them?