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The Shape of Water (Raindrops in Space)
A shape that a drop of water takes is influenced by gravity, the size of the drop, any surfaces the drop is touching and surface tension. Surface tension is a property of the surface of a liquid that causes it to behave like a solid stretchy sheet. It allows insects to walk on water, small object to float on the surface of water and is the cause of capillary action (liquids pulled up into thin hollow cylinder).
Richard Garriott did several experiments with liquid water. He created free floating water drops and observed their shape. He placed drops of water of varying sizes on a variety of surfaces (paper, plastic, metal) and observed the shape of the water drop. He recorded the water experiments showing the size and shape of the water drops and the water surface.
Essential Questions
- How does the surface tension of a liquid determine the shape of the liquid’s surface?
- How does gravity affect the shape of a water drop or the surface of a liquid in a narrow container?
- What types of surfaces can overcome the surface tension of water?
Classroom Activities
Elementary
- Lesson: Battling Liquids
- Lesson: The Overfull Cup
- Lesson: PBSKids Floating Paperclips
- Lesson: Capillary Action ButterfliesBuild a Soap Powered Boat
- Lesson: NASA Newsbreak - How Do Clouds Form?
Middle/High School
- Lesson: Surface Tension on Coins
- Lesson: How Many Drops of Water Fit on A Penny?
- Surface Tension Activities
- Lesson: Capillary Action in Paper Towels
Student Resources
Elementary
- Video: Surface Tension Experiments on ISS Part One
- Video: Surface Tension Experiments on ISS Part Two
Middle/High School
Teacher Resources
- Introduction to Surface Tension
- Surface Tension and Surfaces
- All About Water
- Introduction to Capillary Action
What shape will the water drops have in space? What shape will the surface of the water in the narrow cylinders have in space? What shape will the water drop have when places on surfaces (paper, plastic, metal) in space?
