Surface tension experiment

Summary

In this engaging science experiment by Kids Men's Science, host Ken demonstrates the power of surface tension. Using a glass filled to the brim with water and a credit card, Ken challenges viewers to predict how many pennies can balance on the card before it topples. The experiment shows that only two pennies can be stacked on the card when it's empty, but with the glass full, the card supports an impressive 14 pennies due to the water's surface tension. This simple yet fascinating experiment encourages viewers to try it at home and share their results, while also promoting scientific curiosity.

Takeaways

• 🔬 The experiment demonstrates the concept of surface tension.
• 👨‍🔬 Hosted by Ken from Kids Men's Science, the experiment is designed to be fun and easy.
• 💧 Materials needed include a cup, water, a credit or business card, and coins (specifically pennies in the video).
• 📏 The card should be made of hard plastic, similar to a credit card.
• 🤔 The viewer is encouraged to predict how many coins can be stacked on the card before it falls over.
• 🧐 The first experiment shows that without water, only two or three pennies can be stacked on the card.
• 💧 In the second experiment, water is filled to the rim of the cup, and the card is placed on top.
• 📈 The number of stacked pennies increases significantly when the card is on water due to surface tension.
• 🏺 Surface tension allows 14 pennies to be stacked on the card, surpassing the initial count without water.
• 👍 The video concludes with a call to action for viewers to try the experiment at home and share their results.
• 📺 The host reminds viewers to like and subscribe to the channel for more science experiments.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the experiment presented in the script?

The main topic of the experiment is surface tension.

Who is the presenter of the experiment?

The presenter of the experiment is Ken from Kids Men's Science.

What materials are needed for the experiment according to the script?

The materials needed for the experiment are a cup, water, a credit card or business card, coins (specifically pennies in the script), and additional water for the second part of the experiment.

How many coins are needed for the experiment?

About 10 to 15 coins are needed for the experiment.

What is the purpose of using the same size coin in the experiment?

Using the same size coin ensures consistency and accuracy in the experiment's results.

What is the initial prediction made in the script about the experiment?

The initial prediction is about how many coins can stack up on the card before falling over.

What happens in the first experiment when the glass is empty?

In the first experiment, with an empty glass, the credit card can only hold two or possibly three pennies before falling over.

How does pouring water into the glass affect the experiment?

Pouring water into the glass and placing the credit card on the rim allows for more pennies to be stacked on the card due to the effect of surface tension.

What is the role of surface tension in this experiment?

Surface tension in the experiment helps hold the card down against the water's surface, allowing more pennies to be stacked on it.

How many pennies were successfully stacked on the card in the second experiment?

In the second experiment, 14 pennies were successfully stacked on the card before the 15th penny knocked it over.

What is the call to action for viewers at the end of the script?

The call to action is for viewers to try the experiment at home, comment on their results, and to click thumbs up and subscribe to the channel if they enjoyed the experiment.

Outlines

00:00

🔬 Surface Tension Experiment

In this educational video, host Ken introduces a simple and fun science experiment about surface tension. The necessary materials include a cup, water, a credit or business card made of hard plastic, and 10 to 15 coins, specifically pennies. The experiment is divided into two parts. Initially, Ken tests how many pennies can be stacked on the card when it's placed on an empty glass, which turns out to be a maximum of two. In the second part, after filling the glass to the brim with water and placing the card on top, Ken demonstrates that surface tension allows for a significantly higher number of pennies to be stacked on the card. The experiment concludes with 14 pennies stacked before the 15th causes the setup to topple. Ken encourages viewers to try the experiment at home and share their results, and reminds them to like and subscribe for more content.

Keywords

💡Surface Tension

Surface tension is a phenomenon in physics where the surface of a liquid behaves like a thin elastic membrane due to the cohesive forces between liquid molecules. In the video, this concept is demonstrated through an experiment where a credit card is placed on the rim of a glass filled with water, and coins are stacked on it. The surface tension of the water helps to 'hold' the card in place, allowing more coins to be stacked than would be possible without the water's surface tension.

💡Experiment

An experiment is a scientific procedure undertaken to make a discovery, test a hypothesis, or demonstrate a known fact. In the context of the video, the experiment involves using a credit card, water, and coins to explore the effects of surface tension. The experiment is designed to be fun and educational, allowing viewers to understand the scientific principle in a hands-on manner.

💡Coins

Coins are used in the experiment as a weight to test the strength of surface tension. The script mentions using pennies, but any coin of similar size could be used. The number of coins that can be stacked on the credit card before it falls over is a direct measure of how much the surface tension is aiding in holding the card against the glass.

💡Credit Card

A credit card in this context is a piece of hard plastic used to demonstrate the effect of surface tension. It is placed on the rim of a glass filled with water, and coins are stacked on it to observe how many can be added before the card tips over. The credit card serves as a simple, everyday object that can be used to perform a scientific experiment, making the concept of surface tension accessible to a wide audience.

💡Water

Water is a liquid that is used in the experiment to fill the glass to the brim. Its role is crucial as it provides the surface tension necessary for the experiment. The water's cohesive properties allow it to support the weight of the coins on the credit card, which would not be possible with just the card on its own.

💡Science

Science, as mentioned in the video, refers to the systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation and experimentation. The video aims to educate viewers on the scientific concept of surface tension by conducting a simple, relatable experiment that can be replicated at home.

💡Prediction

Prediction in the context of the video refers to the viewer's or experimenter's guess about the outcome of the experiment before it is conducted. In this case, it is predicting how many coins can be stacked on the credit card before it falls over. This is a common part of the scientific method, where hypotheses are formed and tested.

💡Stacking

Stacking, as used in the video, refers to the action of placing one object on top of another in a vertical arrangement. Here, it involves stacking coins on the credit card to test the limits of surface tension. The stacking process is a visual demonstration of the experiment's aim and serves as the main activity for the viewer to observe and replicate.

💡Hypothesis

A hypothesis is a proposed explanation or assumption made on the basis of limited evidence, serving as a starting point for further investigation. In the video, the hypothesis might be that surface tension will allow more coins to be stacked on the credit card when it is placed on water compared to when it is not.

💡Observation

Observation is the act of carefully watching or noticing a particular thing, often with the purpose of gaining information or drawing conclusions. In the experiment, observations are made as to how many coins can be stacked on the credit card in different conditions (with and without water), which helps to demonstrate the effect of surface tension.

💡Educational

Educational refers to the process of imparting or acquiring knowledge, skills, values, beliefs, and habits. The video is described as an educational experiment, aiming to teach viewers about surface tension in a fun and engaging way. The use of everyday items like a credit card and coins makes the science accessible and relatable.

Highlights

Introduction to a fun and easy experiment on surface tension.

Materials needed for the experiment include a cup, water, a credit card, coins, and additional water.

Demonstration of stacking coins on a card over an empty glass.

Observation that only two or three pennies can be stacked on the card over an empty glass.

Second experiment involves pouring water to the rim and placing the card on top.

Surface tension is the key factor allowing more coins to be stacked on the card over the water.

Successful stacking of 14 pennies on the card over the water-filled glass.

The 15th penny causes the card to tip over, demonstrating the limit of surface tension.

Different angle view showing the coins stacked on the outside of the cup.

Surface tension is explained as the force holding the card down against the water's surface.

Call to action for viewers to try the experiment at home and comment on their results.

Encouragement for viewers to like and subscribe to the channel for more science experiments.

The experiment showcases the practical application of surface tension in a simple and engaging way.

The experiment is designed to be educational and entertaining for viewers of all ages.

The use of common household items makes the experiment accessible and easy to replicate.

The experiment concludes with a reminder to subscribe and support the channel.

Transcripts

today's experiment is about surface

tension

welcome back to kids men's science my

name is ken and today's experiment is a

very fun and easy experiment so what i'm

going to show you is what you need how

to do it and the science behind it so

what you need is a cup and some water

and you need a little bit more water to

fill it up afterwards for the second

part of the experiment a credit card or

a business card some sort of hard

plastic there

and some coins and i'm using pennies so

you can use any kind of coin you want

just make sure the same size coin

and you need about 10 to 15 of those so

i'm going to come right back and show

you the science experiment and the

science behind it

so make a prediction on how many coins

can stack up on the card before falling

over

so the first experiment i have an empty

glass credit card half over and i'm

stacking the pennies on the outside and

you see it only holds two pennies maybe

i get three but i think two's the max so

the second experiment i've actually

poured the water all the way to the top

of the rim and place the credit card in

the same position and i'm gonna see how

many pennies i could stack on at this

time so therefore this time what's

happening is we're using surface tension

so there's two there's three we've

already passed up the last experiment

there's four

five

six so surface tension is really helping

out a lot here as we're seven

eight

nine

ten

eleven

twelve

thirteen it's really past that two the

first time fourteen

and

15 so actually 14 pennies because the

15th penny knocked it over

here's a different angle here you can

see the the pennies are on the outside

of the cup

surface tension is holding the card down

and um try this at home and make sure

you comment below how many coins or

pennies you can stack on there if you

enjoyed this experiment please remember

to click thumbs up and subscribe it

really does help our channel and thanks

for watching