water paper clip experiment

Floating Paper Clip on Water – Science Experiment

• March 10, 2021
• 10 Minute Science , 7-9 Year Olds , Physics

Today, I am going to share an awesome science concept ‘Surface Tension’ through a classic science experiment.

If you are in need of science project for your science fair day, then here is the best science activity you can pick to perform on the day.

How to Make Paper Clips Float on Water

Objective: To explore the strength of water molecules and investigate the science concept ‘Surface Tension’.

Materials Required:

All the materials you are going to collect on your experiment table in this activity are easily available. Here is the simple supplies list:

1) Paper Clips

2) A transparent glass Bowl

3) Clean Water

4) Tissue Paper

5) A New Pencil attached with Eraser or Craft Stick

Instructions to do Floating Paper Clip Science Experiment

Complete Step By Step Video

Take a clean and transparent glass bowl on your experiment table and fill it with fresh water.

Make sure to fill the glass bowl with water nearer to the top or brim of the bowl. Such that we are making things go easily during the activity.

Also, you need to wash your hands before the experiment but only using water.

Do not use soap when you decide to conduct this activity because soap may tamper the outcome results as it holds its own surface tension properties.

Just to show your children, perform a small step how a paper clip actually does when dropped in water.

So, take a paper clip and simply drop it in to the glass bowl filled with water. And now ask your child to check whether it is sinking or floating in the bowl of water.

Absolutely, the paper clip sinks to the bottom of the bowl because of density differences.

Remove the paper clip out of the bowl to perform the next step. Then, take a tissue paper and cut it in the shape of square. Make sure the size of the cut tissue paper is slightly larger than the paper clip.

Now, gently place the square cut tissue paper into the glass bowl with water. You will observe the tissue paper start floating and reaches to top of the water.

At this point of time, place our paper clip carefully on top of the tissue paper. This is a bit tricky step as there is no balance inside water to hold things in right place.

Hope this helps you to place the experiment clip in right place on tissue paper and does not touch the water surface.

It is time to poke tissue paper and this is the favourite step for children.

Hahaha! Take the pencil with eraser on the other side. Use the eraser side to poke the tissue paper.

But make sure you are not touching the paper clip on the tissue paper while poking it with pencil. You need to poke the tissue paper until it reaches to the bottom.

Here is another trick. Extend a paperclip to create a holder like this.

Now carefully place the paper clip on the holder and dip it slowly in the water. Viola.. your paper clip will float now.

I let my kids to float as many paper clips as possible on the surface of the water.

We even had fun blowing air through straw to make the paperclips move in circular motion while floating on the water.

What you observe here? You will observe the tissue paper sinks but not the paper clip. The paper clip remains on the surface of the water floating. It looks magical but it is not a magic, it is actually the science. Let us learn the science behind this super classic experiment.

Science involved in Floating Paper Clip Science Experiment

Why does paper clips sinks to bottom in water? Generally, paper clips are of metal material and normally sink to bottom when put in water.

Because the metal materials are usually heavy in weight and possess higher density when compared to water. That is the reason, paper clips usually sink to the bottom in water.

However, we can make the paper clips to float on the surface area of water using simple science trick.

The floating paper clip science experiment is all about ‘ Surface Tension ’. Surface tension is the cohesive nature of liquid surface film due to the attraction between the molecules which tends to the minimum surface area possible.

In this floating paper clip activity, water molecules hold tightly and stay together because of surface tension.

And we are creating “skin” on the water surface which holds water molecules tightly and suspending the paper clip to appear as floating.

Until the water molecules stay together and hold tightly, they can support paper clip to float on water surface.

So, we are creating ideal and right conditions to support the paper clip to float using tissue paper.

Using tissue paper, we are suspending the paper clip on the surface tension of the water and slowly removing the tissue under it.

Actually, the paper clip does not float but it holds up by the cohesive forces of surface tension and appear as floating.

The same science is being used by the tiny insects to walk across the water surface of the lakes.

Extension Experiment

Here is another awesome experiment that proves surface tension in an educational way. This is an extension activity to floating paper clip science experiment.

Set up the experiment table with a bowl of water. Repeat the same steps of the above activity and make a paper clip float.

Now, dip your finger in a little amount of dish soap and put it on the surface of the water. You will notice the floating paper clip drop to the bottom that means the paper clip sinks to the bottom of the bowl.

Because the soap liquid spreads or pushes away the surface or skin of the water surface to its sides as soon as the soap comes in contact with water.

The soap liquid has a thin layer of surface tension which is less dense than the water surface tension.

That is the reason the soap layer does not hold paper clip anymore and makes it sink.

If you even want to take the experiment further, you can try the same experiment using other steel objects instead of paper clips.

Also, you can replace water with different varieties of juices, milk, etc. and check whether the outcome results are same.  

You can try these interesting and related science experiments with water and surface tension:

Learn to Make a Square Bubble

DIY Soap Powered Boats

Walking Water Experiment

Swirling Magic Milk Experiment

Floating Drawings on Water

Chemical Formula of Surface Tension and Water

Surface tension is the nature of liquid molecules to get attracted due to cohesive forces and remain tightly and tends to minimal surface area possible. The chemical formula of surface tension is:

r = 1/2 . F/L

r is surface tension

F represents Force

L represents Length

Water is the major constituent of Earth’s atmosphere with chemical formula, H2O. In chemical formula , H represents hydrogen atoms and 2 says hydrogen atoms in two numbers. Whereas O represents one oxygen atom. Hydrogen atoms are positively charged and oxygen atom is negatively charged. That means, water molecule is a constituent of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. Water is colorless, tasteless, odorless, and offers no calories.

Water molecule is stable when two positively charged hydrogen atoms bond to one negatively charged atom. There is a slight difference in charges while bonding which is known as dipole. The bond between two water molecules is referred as hydrogen bonding. The water molecules on the surface of water in the bowl attract each other due to cohesive forces and form surface tension on top of it. This surface tension is the reason to hold paper clip on top of water.

When you dip the soap liquid in the water, the surface tension breaks because the thin layer of soap liquid reduces the water surface tension because of existence of non-polar and dipole free bodies. Hence, it is difficult for paper clips to float and sinks to bottom.

Questions to discuss during the Experiment

Asking questions during the experiment helps children to improve their critical thinking skills and encourages them to do wonders in science. Here are a few questions to discuss about the experiment:

1) Why does paper clip floats on water but not on other liquids?

2) Are there any other liquids that hold paper clip to float?

3) What do you think the shape of the paper clip impacts the floating ability?

4) How many paper clips can the water surface tension holds?

5) Is it possible to increase the surface tension of the water naturally?

6) What are the other liquids that show stronger surface tension and good at floating things?

Yes, absolutely you can float a paper clip on water. Paper clips are of steel material which defy the floating physical laws. But surprisingly we can float steel paper clips on the water using surface tension created on top surface area of water. The higher surface tension of water molecules holds the paper clips float on water.

Naturally, paper clips are of heavy weight and sinks in the water container as it shows greater density than water. But when you suspend the paper clip carefully on top of the water surface, it floats amazingly. This is because of surface tension formed due to the cohesive forces between the water molecules. You can find many tricks to make the paper clip float on top of the water surface in a container.  

When you drop a paper clip into the water, it sinks to the bottom of the container. But when you drop the paper clip trickily, on top of the water surface, it floats. Because the water molecules stay tightly together by attracting other water molecules and form a strong surface tension due to cohesive forces. This surface tension keeps the paper clip floating on the water surface.

Alcohol is a non-polar liquid body that holds very less surface tension when compared to water. As alcohol is non-polar, it does not form hydrogen bonds. Without hydrogen bonds there is no cohesive forces and no surface tension making the paper clips sink in the water! Hence, it is highly impossible for a paper clip to float on alcohol.

When you add some detergent to the water on which a paper clip is floating, the surface tension of water gets disturbed. Due to the thin layer of soapy liquid of detergent, the surface tension of water breaks. When the surface tension gets disturbed the water molecules loose enough strength to hold the water molecules together. And the water surface area loses its surface tension due to lack of attraction between the water molecules. Finally causes the floating paper clip to sink to the bottom of the bowl containing full of water.

Tooth picks float on water surface because they naturally come with flat surface and made of wood. Flat surfaces do not sink into the water instead float on top of the water surface naturally. Because of their light weight and surface tension of water, the tooth picks float amazingly on top of the water.

Paper clips float on the surface area of the water because of surface tension. Surface tension is the tendency of liquid molecules to attract each other due to cohesive forces. In floating paper clip science experiment, the water molecules on the surface area attract each other and stay tight due to cohesive force. Thus forms the strong surface tension on the top layer of water in the bowl. When you push the paper clip, due to strong force the surface tension breaks and sinks the paper clip float.  

Naturally, paper clip is a metal material i.e. steel and stays separated from other paper clips when placed together in a container. However, they become magnetised when we use strong magnets to make the paper clips float. This is because steel easily gets attracted to magnets and becomes slightly magnetic but loses its magnetism soon after you remove the magnet away.  

Yes, absolutely we can increase the surface tension of water using salt. Salt is the magical kitchen hold ingredient that surprisingly increases the water surface tension. All you need to do is just add a little amount of salt to the fresh water taken in a container. That’s it! The surface tension of water increases amazingly. You can observe this by doing some surface tension experiments like floating paper clip, magnet paper clip, etc.

Water is an odourless, tasteless, and calorie less inorganic compound that has strong surface tension i.e. 72.8millinewtons (mN) per meter at 20 °C. There are other liquids that show strongest surface tension such as mercury. Whereas alcohol and benzene shows less surface tension compared to water and mercury.

It all depends on the surface tension. You can keep on adding paper clips to the water surface carefully until the surface tension of the water in the container holds. Make sure you are dropping paper clip one after the other carefully on the surface tension of the water. When you drop paper clips one by one, they start sticking to each other because of the forces acting inside the liquid surface area.

Because of higher surface tension on the water, the paper clip is able to float when placed on quizlet. The water molecules stay tightly together and remain closely forming skin of the water surface due to the cohesive forces inside it. This skin of the water surface is nothing but the surface tension which makes paper clips float on the water surface area.

Floating paper clips with magnets is an interesting and exciting science activity using everyday supplies in the home. Here are the instructions to do: 1) Take 5-6 inch long thread and tie it to one end of the paper clip 2) Now glue the other free end of the thread to the immobile object in the home like tables, desks, etc. Whatever you use, you need to perform the experiment near that object only. 3) Place a magnet just above the paper clip and make sure the magnet is not touching the paper clip. Just bring it near to the paper clip. 4) As the paper clip is metal, it gets attracted to the magnet and starts moving towards magnet which seem like the paper clip is floating.

As human body is much stronger and has great gravitational force, it is impossible for them to walk on water surface. Because of these two reasons, the humans overcome the surface tension of water. Whereas the small tiny insects walk across the surface layer of lake water because of string surface tension of water molecules on the lake. As insects are small in size and light in weight cannot overcome the strong surface tension of water. Thus, it is easy for tiny insects to walk across the water.

The densest liquid on Earth’s atmosphere is Mercury or Quick Silver. Mercury is the best known liquid since 3500 years and stays stable at STP i.e. standard conditions of pressure and temperature. In addition, mercury proves to have higher surface tension than water and known as second highest surface tension liquid after water.

Time requires: It just requires 3-5 minutes of your free time. As it is a simple and quick activity, you can even perform it on your busy day during play time as well.

Age Group: Kids of all age group are perfect to investigate this simple science activity. Especially the older kids learn the science concepts in an easy and educational way while having a lot of fun. Kindergarten, elementary, and pre-school children can also perform this activity during their free time and learn about water molecules.

Safety measures: This activity is completely safe as we are not using any single toxic material or substances. The only thing we need consider is paper clips. As paper clips are tiny, there are chances by younger children to keep it inside the mouth. So, adult supervision is mandatory when you perform this activity with toddlers, and kindergarten. It is always suggestible to wear safety goggles and gloves while performing the activity.

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Floating Paper Clips: Exploring the Wonderful Wonders of Surface Tension and Buoyancy

Table of Contents

When you place a paper clip gently on the surface of water, you might expect it to sink due to its metal composition. However, with a careful hand, the paper clip can float . This surprising phenomenon is a result of surface tension , a property of water that allows it to act like an elastic sheet.

Exploring this further, what keeps the paper clip afloat is not just water’s surface tension but also buoyancy – the force that allows objects to float. If the forces of surface tension and buoyancy are balanced with the weight of the paper clip, the object will not break the surface and will remain buoyant.

Michelle Connolly, founder of LearningMole and educational consultant with over 16 years of classroom experience, points out, “Floating a paper clip on water is a simple yet powerful demonstration of physics in action, showing that even small objects can defy gravity under the right circumstances.”

Key Takeaways

• Surface tension and buoyancy work together to allow a paper clip to float on water.
• A careful approach is essential to prevent the paper clip from breaking the water’s surface tension.
• Simple experiments like this reveal complex physics principles at work in everyday life.

The Science of Surface Tension

In the realm of fluid dynamics, surface tension is a fascinating phenomenon that allows objects less dense than water, like paper clips, to float when carefully placed on the water’s surface.

Understanding Cohesive Forces

At the heart of surface tension lies the concept of cohesive forces . These are the attractive forces between like molecules , which are particularly strong at the surface of a liquid. In a liquid, each molecule is pulled by neighbouring molecules in all directions. However, molecules at the surface are not surrounded by similar molecules on all sides, which results in a net inward force. This inward pulling creates a sort of ‘film’ on the surface of the liquid, making it more difficult for objects to penetrate this surface layer.

Cohesive forces are essential because they contribute to the droplet formation of liquids and affect a liquid’s behaviour when in contact with other substances. For example, in water, these forces play a pivotal role in phenomena such as droplets retaining a spherical shape and the ability to fill capillary tubes above or below the general fluid level.

Hydrogen Bonds and Water Molecules

When we turn our attention to water molecules , it’s clear that hydrogen bonds are the unsung heroes of surface tension. Each water molecule can form up to four hydrogen bonds with adjacent molecules, leading to a strong cohesive force. These hydrogen bonds give water a high surface tension, which is why certain small objects, providing their weight doesn’t exceed the surface tension threshold, can float on the water’s surface.

This interplay between hydrogen bonds and surface tension is the reason behind the phenomenon where a carefully placed paper clip — made of steel, but with a far greater density than water—can float. The dense paper clip doesn’t submerge because the cohesive forces generated by the hydrogen bonds among the liquid molecules create enough surface tension to counteract gravity’s pull on the paper clip’s mass.

“Understanding surface tension and its causes not only explains many everyday occurrences but also lays the groundwork for complex scientific applications,” says Michelle Connolly, founder of LearningMole and a seasoned educator with a profound understanding of science’s nuances.

Through this knowledge, you begin to appreciate the delicate balance that governs the behaviour of liquids and the cohesion at play between their molecules .

Exploring Buoyancy

In this exploration of buoyancy, you’ll unpack the underlying principles that govern whether objects sink or float and the critical role of density in this phenomenon.

Principles of Floating and Sinking

Buoyancy is the force that enables objects to float in a liquid. If the buoyant force exerted by the liquid is greater than the weight of the object , the object will float. Conversely, the object will sink if the weight overcomes the buoyant force. The Archimedes’ principle is central to this concept, stating that the upward buoyant force on an object in a fluid is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the object.

Density and Its Role

Density is a measure of how much mass is contained in a given volume. An object will float in a liquid if it is less dense than the liquid. For instance, a paper clip can float on water because the surface tension of the water provides enough force to counteract the weight of the clip, allowing it to float despite being made of steel, a material denser than water.

Michelle Connolly, founder of LearningMole and an educational expert with over 16 years of experience in the classroom, shares her insight on the subject: “Understanding buoyancy is not just about knowing why things float or sink; it’s a practical gateway to delving into scientific concepts that we encounter every day. We see the real-life application of this when ships made of steel float on water due to the principle of buoyancy.”

Archimedes' principle reflects upon the intricate balance of forces at play, while the curious behaviour of materials like superhydrophobic coated glass and paper clips demonstrates the pivotal role of surface tension alongside buoyancy.

Paper Clips and Water: An Unlikely Pair

When you place a paper clip gently onto the water’s surface, something intriguing happens—it floats. Despite being made of steel, which is denser than water, paper clips can defy expectations due to the delicate balance between surface tension and buoyancy.

Why Do Paper Clips Float?

The floating of a paper clip on water may seem surprising at first, as your intuition might tell you that metal sinks. However, this common office item can indeed float due to the water surface’s ability to support objects lighter and less dense than itself. The water surface acts like an elastic sheet, a phenomenon explained by the concept of surface tension . This tension is the result of the molecules in the water being attracted to each other and creating enough of a barrier to hold lightweight objects, like a paper clip, atop.

The Effect of Surface Tension on Paper Clips

Surface tension is influenced by the cohesion of water molecules, binding together like a ‘skin’ on the water’s surface. When a paper clip is placed carefully and horizontally on this skin, it is supported by surface tension as long as the force does not exceed the weight of the paper clip. “The beautiful dance between the surface tension acting like a ‘skin’ and the weight of the paperclip needing to be right to achieve this floating act is a classic and easily observable example of physics in action ,” suggests Michelle Connolly, founder and educational consultant with significant classroom experience. The interaction prevents the paper clip from breaking through this skin and sinking.

By understanding these principles, you can delve into the intricacies of how the seemingly impossible—like a floating paper clip —is entirely possible and quite logical when viewed through the lens of science.

Experiments with Floating Paper Clips

Diving into the world of science with a simple experiment can be quite revealing. In this section, you’ll discover how a paper clip can float on water and observe what happens when detergents interact with the water’s surface.

Step-by-Step Floating Paper Clip Activity

To begin this fascinating experiment, you will:

• Fill a bowl with water.
• Gently place a paper clip on the surface of the water, trying not to break the surface tension.
• Observe as the paper clip remains afloat due to the surface tension formed by the cohesion of water molecules.

It’s crucial to perform this activity with a steady hand and patience. The paper clip, usually denser than water, floats due to the strength of the surface tension that acts like a skin over the water.

Influence of Detergents on Water Surface

Now, let’s see how detergents affect this delicate balance:

• Add a small drop of detergent or soap close to the floating paper clip.
• Watch as the paper clip sinks when the detergent breaks the surface tension.

The detergent lowers the water’s surface tension by reducing the cohesion among the water molecules. Michelle Connolly, educational expert, says, “Experiments like these beautifully demonstrate the delicate equilibrium of forces in our everyday life.” With just a toothpick and detergent, you can break the water’s surface tension and change the outcome of the experiment, making it a clear illustration of how even a tiny change can shift the balance.

Everyday Phenomena Explained

Explore everyday occurrences through the principles of surface tension and buoyancy that astonish and baffle the mind. How can tiny insects casually stroll across a pond’s surface and why doesn’t a massive ship sink under its own weight? Let’s unravel these mysteries.

Water Striders on the Surface

The common water strider you spot skimming across ponds leverages the science of surface tension to its advantage. Their long, lightweight legs, covered by a special skin, distribute weight evenly and create a barrier that prevents them from sinking. This barrier is caused by water molecules bonding together and creating a ‘skin’ at the water’s surface , strong enough to support them, similar to a makeshift tightrope.

Why Do Boats Float?

Boats stay afloat thanks to the principle of buoyancy, which is the force that water exerts to support the weight of an object. The shape of a boat’s hull enables the displacement of water equal to the boat’s weight. This interaction between water and the boat allows the vessel, irrespective of its size, to float on the water’s surface as long as the gravitational pull is balanced by this buoyant force. If you want to dig deeper into the specifics, examine the principle of buoyancy and how it applies to different structures.

“Even the most complex scientific principles can be found in simple, everyday occurrences – it’s all about knowing where to look,” says Michelle Connolly, educational consultant with 16 years of classroom experience. Her insight underscores the marvels of physics that are present in our day-to-day life, making the mundane, magnificent.

Manipulating Surface Tension

You can perform simple experiments to understand how to manipulate surface tension, specifically through dispersing agents like soap and physical interaction using objects like toothpicks.

Adding Soap to Break the Tension

When you add soap or detergent to water, you are introducing surfactants that lower the water’s surface tension. This happens because the surfactant molecules have one hydrophilic (water-attracting) end and one hydrophobic (water-repelling) end. By mixing with water, these molecules spread out across the surface, reducing the strong cohesive forces between water molecules. Soap makes the water ‘more wet’ by breaking down the barrier that normally holds water molecules tighter together.

“By simply adding a few drops of dish soap, you can see the immediate effect it has on the water’s ability to cling together,” notes Michelle Connolly, a well-founded educational consultant with over a decade and a half of classroom experience. “This illustrates the delicate balance that surface tension provides in both nature and technology.”

Using Toothpicks to Disturb the Surface

To physically manipulate surface tension, you can use a toothpick. If you carefully touch the surface of the water with a dry toothpick, you’ll notice it can push small items across the surface because it disturbs the water’s surface tension where it makes contact. The water surrounding the contact point still retains strong cohesion, allowing the toothpick to push items along the higher tension areas, essentially creating a barrier that can move objects.

Toothpicks allow you to manipulate the shape of the liquid’s surface without reducing the overall surface tension as soap would; they only cause a local disturbance. It’s a subtle yet powerful way to interact with the liquid’s surface, indicative of the intricacies of surface tension.

Remember, these simple actions provide a hands-on understanding of how surface tension works and how it can be altered.

Understanding Liquids and Floating

When you observe a paper clip floating on water, you’re witnessing the delicate balance between surface tension and the forces of buoyancy at play. This section explores how these forces interact with the intrinsic properties of liquids.

The Cohesive Nature of Different Liquids

Different liquids exhibit varying degrees of cohesive forces , which are the intermolecular attractions that cause a liquid to resist external force. These forces play a crucial role in how a liquid behaves when an object interacts with its surface. For example, water has a relatively high surface tension due to its strong cohesive nature, allowing lightweight objects, like paper clips, to remain afloat as long as the surface tension is not disrupted.

Michelle Connolly , founder and educational consultant of LearningMole, points out, “Water’s ability to hold up small objects is not just a fun classroom experiment; it’s a showcase of the complex intermolecular forces at work in everyday liquids.”

Comparing Water to Other Liquids

Let’s consider how water compares to other common liquids such as milk and mercury:

• Water : Boasts a high surface tension and is less dense than a paper clip, enabling the clip to float if placed gently.
• Milk : Slightly lower in surface tension due to fats and proteins, may not support the paper clip as effectively.
• Mercury : Extremely high surface tension but also very dense, so a paper clip would not sink but be unable to rest on the surface smoothly.

Understanding the cohesive nature of these liquids allows you to predict and explain why certain objects either float effortlessly or sink rapidly. Keep in mind that while these principles are consistent, the outcome can vary depending on the condition and purity of the liquid involved.

DIY Science at Home

Indulge your curiosity and bring science to life right from your kitchen table with these straightforward floating paper clip experiments. It’s a brilliant chance to explore the concepts of surface tension and buoyancy with just a few household items.

Simple Floating Experiments for Kids

Discovering how surface tension works is fascinating, especially when you perform the floating paper clip experiment . First , fill a clean glass with water. Next , gently place a tissue paper on the water’s surface, and then carefully place a steel paper clip on the tissue. Watch as the tissue sinks and the paper clip remains afloat, defying gravity, thanks to surface tension . It’s an excellent way to visualise this force in action.

Materials Required for Water Science

For these experiments, here’s what you’ll need:

• Container : A glass of water or any transparent vessel.
• Supplies : Clean tissue paper, several paper clips, and a dropper (optional).

Steel paper clips work best because they are denser than water but can be supported by the surface tension of the water if placed carefully. And if you’re curious why the paper clips float, Michelle Connolly, an expert with over 16 years of classroom experience, shares, “When you gently lay the clip on the water, the surface acts like a skin under the tension, supporting the clip’s weight and demonstrating a balance between gravity and surface tension.”

Get creative with your experiments – science is not just a subject to learn; it’s a world to explore at home!

The Physics of Floating Objects

When exploring the physics behind floating objects, it’s essential to recognise the crucial role of forces at play. Two main actors in this aquatic drama are buoyancy, the upward force that keeps things afloat, and gravity , which pulls objects down.

How Objects Like Ships Stay Afloat

Enormous ships float because their overall density is lower than the water they displace. This concept, known as buoyancy, is why vessels made of steel, a material denser than water, do not sink immediately. By design, ships encompass large volumes of air, which reduces their overall density, allowing them to float. The force of buoyancy must equal the force of gravity pulling down on the ship for it to remain afloat.

Magnetism vs. Buoyancy

While magnetism can provide a lifting force similar to buoyancy in some cases, it operates distinctly differently. Objects do not float due to magnetism; rather, magnetic forces can cause objects to be suspended in the air. It’s buoyancy, however, that battles gravity to keep objects floating in fluids. Michelle Connolly, a seasoned educational consultant with over 16 years of classroom experience states, “Grasping the concept of buoyancy can turn a child’s fascination with floating paper clips into a deep understanding of fluid mechanics principles.”

Impacts on Aquatic Environment

The delicate balance of our aquatic ecosystems often hinges on subtle phenomena, one of which is surface tension. It plays a pivotal role in influencing the habitat and the survival of various aquatic organisms.

How Surface Tension Affects Aquatic Life

Surface tension is the elastic tendency of water at rest, caused by cohesion among water molecules. This invisible “skin” of water has a profound impact on aquatic life . For example, some insects exploit this characteristic to skim across water bodies, a skill crucial for their survival and interaction with the environment .

Additionally, surface tension directly influences the oxygenation of water, an essential process for the health of fish and other marine species. When organisms like water striders disturb the surface, they enhance gas exchange, helping to replenish oxygen levels that sustain underwater life.

Michelle Connolly, as the founder of LearningMole with extensive classroom experience, notes, “Surface tension isn’t just a curiosity—it’s a life-sustaining feature of aquatic ecosystems.” Her insight underscores the significance of this physical property in supporting diverse and dynamic habitats.

Troubleshooting Tips

Encountering issues while trying to make a paper clip float can be common. Here’s how you can address the challenges and adjust certain variables for successful replication.

Challenges in Replicating the Floating Paper Clip

When attempting to make a paper clip float, you might find that it submerges instead. The key to troubleshooting this problem lies in understanding surface tension. Surface tension is the elastic tendency of a fluid surface which makes it acquire the least surface area possible. It acts like a skin on the water’s surface that can support the paper clip.

• Check the Water : Make sure it is clean; even small amounts of detergent can reduce surface tension.
• Positioning of the Paper Clip : Gentle placement is crucial; dropping it from a height can break the surface tension.

“Often it’s the simplest of changes that turn failure into success. Just a gentler touch can be all it takes,” points out Michelle Connolly, a leading educational consultant.

Adjusting Variables for Success

If your paper clip still fails to float, consider adjusting other variables:

• Water Temperature : Warmer water might reduce surface tension; try cooler water.
• Paper Clip Material : They should be standard steel; coated or heavier clips may not float as easily.

By reflecting on each aspect and methodically testing different conditions, you’ll be able to observe the floating paper clip in action. Remember, this is a delicate experiment where precision and patience are your allies.

Frequently Asked Questions

In this section, we explore some common questions about how paper clips can float on water, the role of surface tension and buoyancy, and the impact of detergents on this delicate balance.

How can surface tension help a paper clip to float on water?

Surface tension is the elastic tendency of a fluid surface which makes it acquire the least surface area possible. “When you gently place a paper clip on the surface of water, surface tension acts like a sort of skin supporting the paper clip,” explains Michelle Connolly, an educational consultant with 16 years of classroom experience.

What role does buoyancy play in keeping a paper clip afloat?

Buoyancy is the force that enables objects to float. For a paper clip, although its density is higher than water, the upward buoyant force of the water, combined with the surface tension, works against gravity, allowing it to remain on the water’s surface without sinking.

Can you explain the science behind why a paper clip can float on water?

The science behind a floating paper clip involves the balance between gravitational forces and the upward forces of buoyancy and surface tension. Michelle Connolly, founder of LearningMole, articulates “It’s remarkable how a metal paper clip can defy gravity and float due to these forces acting in harmony.”

What is the effect of detergent on the surface tension of water in the floating paper clip experiment?

Detergent reduces the surface tension of water by interfering with the hydrogen bonds between water molecules. This can cause a floating paper clip to sink because the ‘skin’ effect of the water surface is disrupted.

How does adding soap to water affect a floating paper clip?

Adding soap to water breaks down the surface tension. Michelle Connolly, with her extensive educational background, says, “Introducing soap to the experiment demonstrates how the paper clip loses its support and sinks as the surface tension diminishes.”

What is a simple experiment to demonstrate surface tension with a paper clip?

A simple experiment to demonstrate surface tension involves carefully placing a paper clip on the surface of water in a glass or bowl. Michelle Connolly suggests, “This experiment is a great way to visualise the invisible force that surface tension exerts, keeping the paper clip afloat against the odds.”

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How to Float a Paperclip in Water Experiment

This is a great experiment to impress your friends and learn a little bit about surface tension too!  All you need is a glass and a paperclip, so let's get started!

What Do I Need?

• Glass of water

How Do I Do It?

STEP1   - Just prove to yourself what you already know, if you drop a paperclip into a cup of water then it's sure to sink!

STEP2   - We need to lower the paperclip extremely gently onto the surface of the water. The simplest way to do this is to take another paperclip, extend it out, and then use it as a lever to lower the paperclip that you want to float. (Make sure to fill your glass of water near to the top as that will make things easier.)

Top Tip:   It's always a good idea to wash your hands with water only - not with soap - before you get started. More on why you need to do this in a sec!

STEP3   - Sit back and relax and enjoy your floating paperclip! When you've finished doing that we'll have a look at what's going on!

What’s Going On?

You know that as paperclips are made out of metal they're more dense than water, that's why they normally sink. 

How come this one is floating? 

It all has to do with surface tension. It's actually the surface of the water that's holding the paperclip up! 

We'll prove this next!

More Fun Please! - Experiment Like A Real Scientist!

Let's try an extra experiment to prove it's all about the surface tension. Put a drop of washing up liquid on your finger and dip your finger gently into the water. You'll see the paperclip fall to the bottom of the glass.

As soon as you touch the water the soap spreads a thin layer right across the surface of the water. This thin soap layer has a much lower surface tension than the water does and it's not enough to hold up the paperclip!

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Make a Paperclip Float Science Experiment

Surface tension is an interesting scientific concept that is difficult for most kids to understand. But with this paperclip experiment, it becomes much easier for kids to understand as they can see it work right before their eyes! The floating paperclip science experiment is so simple and it’s perfect for a science day when you haven’t had time to prep or need something quick to wrap up a lesson. Try the experiment with other materials and see if you can get them to float, too!

You just need a few things for this activity! Paperclips, water, and a small container.

Ask your kids if they think paperclips can float. They may say yes or no, but it doesn’t really matter at this point.

Put some in the water and see what happens. They will sink!

Now, ask your kids if they think the paperclips can be made to float. Let them know it is possible.

Wait for your kids to try it for a few minutes, then if they don’t get it, show them how it’s done by bending a paperclip into a little shelf, balancing a paperclip on the shelf, and slowly lowering it into the water.

It will float!

It’s not magic, it’s surface tension!

Make a Paperclip Float Science Experiment Explained

More fun science for kids:

Paper Clip On Water: A Simple Science Experiment For Kids

Learning becomes fun and lot more effective with the help of science experiments. Here is one exciting science experiment that you can conduct at home or in school to make kids understand why and how paper clips float on water.

For this science experiment, you would need paper clips, a bowl of water, tissue paper, and a pencil and eraser.

Now fill the bowl with water. Take a piece of tissue and gently drop that onto the surface of water. Without touching the water or the tissue, try to place a dry and clean clip onto the tissue. Take a pencil to slowly poke the tissue until it sinks down into the water. It may take some effort but the tissue will sink and the paper clip would be left floating on the water.

Kids would be surprised to see the paper clips floating on the water. How does it really happen?

The scientific theory behind this is known as surface tension. There is a kind of skin on the surface of water which holds the water molecules tightly. This surface tension also holds the paper clip which can otherwise not float on the water.

If you place an insect such as a water strider on the water, you would notice that it would walk on the water. The insect uses this skin to walk over the surface of the water.

You can use this science experiment for finding out many other interesting things, such as how many paper clips can the surface tension hold? Does the floating ability of the paper clip depend on its shape and size? How can the surface tension of the liquid be made stronger? Do all liquids have the same surface tension?

To conduct this and many more exciting and experiential science experiments at home or school, you can buy science kits.

Let your kids enjoy learning science!!

Floating Paperclip Science Experiment

Make a paper clip float on water. The paper clip is held afloat by the surface tension of the water. Water molecules are polar, so the molecules pull on each other. This creates tension – like a thin, flexible membrane on the surface – which helps hold the paper clip afloat. The tissue paper allows you to gently lower the paper clip onto the water without breaking the surface tension. Insects such as water striders use water tension to appear to walk on water.

Ingredients:

• Tissue paper
• A paper clip
• A pencil with an eraser on the end

Fill the bowl with water.

Tear off some tissue paper (around 4in x 2in).

Gently place the tissue paper onto the surface of the water so that it floats.

Place the dry paper clip on top of the tissue.

Use the rubber end of the pencil to carefully poke until the tissue sinks and the paper clip is left floating.

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Science project, floating paper clip.

Have you ever seen a bug skate across the surface of water? This is made possible by the cohesion of water molecules on the surface of the water. When we say that water molecules are cohesive, we mean that they stick tightly to one another—so much so that they create surface tension . Because bugs weigh very little, they can rest their weight on the top of the water without breaking the tension—so to them, it is almost as if they’re standing on a solid surface! In this experiment, we’ll take something relatively heavy (a paperclip) and balance it on the surface of the water in order to demonstrate just how powerful surface tension can be.

Make a paperclip float in a bowl of water.

Can you make a paperclip float? Will adding detergent to the water help you? Why or why not?

• Paper towel
• Cotton swab
• Laundry or dish detergent (or both!)
• Fill a small bowl ¾ of the way full with water.
• Use the scissors to cut a small square out of a paper towel.
• Place the paperclip in the center of the small square.
• Place the small paper towel square on the surface of the water. When doing this, try to lay the paper towel down as evenly as possible. If the center gets wet first, your paperclip may not float.
• Use a cotton swab to gently push the paper towel down into the water, away from the paperclip. What happens? Record your observations
• Repeat the experiment, but before adding your paper towel and paperclip, add ½ a teaspoon of laundry or dish detergent to the water and stir until it is well mixed. What happens? Record your observations.

When there is no detergent in the water, you'll achieve a floating paper clip! When detergent is added, the paperclip may still float, but it is far less likely to do so.

The paperclip will float due to surface tension . Surface tension is the attraction of like particles to one another on a surface—in our case, a water-air surface. Water molecules on a surface experience cohesion , which is the sticking together of one molecule to another molecule of the same material. The paperclip is less likely to float in the water with detergent because the detergent acts as a surfactant —a material that reduces the surface tension of the liquid it is dissolved in.

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Surface Tension of Water Demonstration

April 17, 2019 By Emma Vanstone 3 Comments

These super simple investigations are great for demonstrating the surface tension of water .

What is surface tension?

Surface tension  is a force which causes a layer of liquid to behave like an elastic sheet or skin.

Molecules of water are more attracted to each other than other molecules, as water is a polar molecule. The positive hydrogen end of one molecule is attracted to the negative oxygen end of another water molecule. The surface water molecules only have air above them, so they are pulled down, creating surface tension.

The high surface tension of water allows insects to walk over it. Pond skaters have long, hairy legs, allowing them to spread their weight over a wide area. They press very gently on the water’s surface so as not to break through it.

In a container of water, molecules below the surface are pulled together ( or attracted to each other ) equally in all directions, but those on top are pulled together more tightly, as they don’t have water molecules above them; this draws them together to form a ‘skin’. It is this skin ( surface tension ) that stops items on the surface from sinking.

Surface Tension Holes Experiment

You’ll need.

A big bowl of water

Some ground pepper (black so you can see it) or any other ground product with colour

Washing up liquid ( dish soap )

Once the water settles, sprinkle the ground pepper over the top.

Drip some washing-up liqu id in the middle of the bowl and watch what happens.

A hole appears in the centre as the pepper moves outwards. This is your surface tension hole !

If you want to repeat the demonstration, you’ll need to wash out the bowl thoroughly to remove any traces of the dish soap ( washing up liquid ), or the effect won’t be as dramatic.

Why does this happen?

The surface tension hole is caused by the washing up liquid reducing the surface tension of the water. This allows the particles of water at the surface to spread out, starting from where the washing-up liquid was added.

More Surface Tension Experiments for Kids

Frugal Fun for Boys has an excellent surface tension investigation using a coin and different liquids !

You can use washing-up liquid to disrupt the surface tension of water to race lolly sticks .

In a magic milk experiment , the washing up liquid disrupts the surface tension of the milk, which makes food colouring spread out just like the pepper and water.

Another surface tension experiment is where you make a shape on the surface of the water with cocktail sticks and drop some washing-up liquid in the centre to force the sticks apart.

Watch how water behaves on the space station with this NASA video.

Try filling a bowl half full with water and carefully placing a paperclip on the top, so it floats. Mix a little washing-up liquid in a cup with water and gently pour it into the bowl; the paper clip will sink as the water can no longer support the weight of the paper clip after the washing-up liquid disrupts the surface tension of the water.

Science concepts

Surface tension

Last Updated on July 8, 2023 by Emma Vanstone

Safety Notice

Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

Reader Interactions

October 16, 2011 at 3:00 pm

Great activity, I am going to try it with my daughter! I love how you call it “washing up liquid” – I call it that too. 🙂

October 16, 2011 at 9:26 pm

Thanks, glad you like it!

October 21, 2011 at 6:01 pm

So many great ideas come form this blog! Thank you for linking up to the The Sunday Showcase

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How to Demonstrate Surface Tension with a Paperclip and Water for a Science Experiment

Three Ways That Polarity of Water Molecules Affect the Behavior of ...

The surface tension of water describes how molecules on the surface of the liquid attract each other. The surface tension of water allows objects of greater density to be supported on the surface of the water. The attraction of a molecule to itself is called cohesion, and attraction between two different molecules is called adhesion. The paperclip floating on the surface of water demonstrates to your children how the surface tension of water works. Indeed, surface tension is what allows small insects to walk on the surface of water -- or what allows dust and leaves to float on the surface of water. This property, in conjunction with cohesion, is what allows the surface portion of a liquid to form drops, such as water drops.

Fill a bowl, glass or beaker with water.

Float a small piece of paper towel on the surface of the water.

Place the paperclip on top of the paper towel.

Push the sides of the paper towel carefully down into the water until the paper towel is no longer touching the paperclip.

Remove the paper towel carefully from the water. The paperclip should easily remain floating on the surface of the water unless it is disturbed or bumped.

Mix some soap with water in a container.

Add a couple drops of soapy water to the surface of the water using a dropper. Do this where the paperclip is floating. But be careful to add it to the water away from the paperclip. The soapy water should break the surface tension of the water, causing the paperclip to fall to the bottom of the container. If it doesn't work immediately, give it a few seconds or add a few more drops of soapy water.

Ask your child or student to explain why the paperclip floats on water (since it is denser than water). This is also a way to help your young children become or stay interested in science.

Ask your children or students why they think soapy water caused the paperclip to fall to the bottom. (Hint: It is because soap is a surfactant, and that reduces the surface tension of water.)

Things You'll Need

• Water beading on a freshly waxed car forms a sphere because of the water's surface tension.

The separation of oil and water is caused by several different properties of the liquids, including the differences in the surface tension of the liquids -- called "interface tension."

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• Elmhurst College: Floating Objects
• The separation of oil and water is caused by several different properties of the liquids, including the differences in the surface tension of the liquids -- called "interface tension."

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Magic Part 2 – Floating Paperclip!

Paper clips can’t float ..

It’s true, paperclips cannot float in water, but they can appear to float when suspended on the surface tension of water. Surface tension is like a “skin” on the surface of the water where water molecules bond together. With a steady hand, you can get a paperclip to suspend itself on the surface of the water. In this video, we also used a Japanese yen coin which is made of lightweight aluminum. How much weight can the surface tension of water hold? Don’t just sit there, go try for yourself and find out!

CLICK HERE FOR THE FLOATING PAPERCLIP INSTRUCTIONS

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How Many Paper Clips Fit In A Glass Of Water?

This is an awesome   science experiment for young kids and older ones, too! How many paper clips can you fit in a glass of water? The answer might surprise you! We have tons of fun and easy  science experiments for you to try!

PAPERCLIPS IN WATER EXPERIMENT

Have leftover paper clips? Try our floating paper clip experiment or paper clip chain STEM challenge!

• Box of Paper clips

INSTRUCTIONS:

STEP 1: Fill a glass with water as full as you can, without spilling any out. Make sure to discuss how many paper clips kids predict will fit in the glass.

STEP 2: Now add the paper clips, one at a time. Make sure to count them as you put them in.

What do you notice happens to the water?

STEP 3: Continue adding more paper clips until finally, the water begins to spill over the edge.

Did the water behave the way you thought it would? How many paper clips did it take to push the water out?

No water spilled out? Why not repeat the experiment using a smaller glass. Read on to find out why so many paper clips can fit in a glass of water.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Were you surprised that many more paper clips would fit in the glass than you predicted?

Surface tension and cohesion are why you can get so many paper clips in the glass without spilling. Cohesion is the “stickiness” of like molecules to one another. Water molecules love to stick together! Learn more about surface tension .

Surface tension is the result of all the water molecules sticking together. Once the water has reached the top of the glass, a dome shape begins to form. This is due to the surface tension forming a shape with the least surface area possible (like bubbles)!

MORE FUN SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS

Turn It Into A Science Fair Project

Science projects are an excellent way for older kids to demonstrate their knowledge of science. They can also be used in various environments, including classrooms and groups.

Kids can take everything they have learned about using the scientific method , stating a hypothesis, choosing variables , making observations , and analyzing and presenting data.

Want to turn one of these experiments into an awesome science fair project? Check out these helpful resources.

• Science Project Tips From A Teacher
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• Easy Science Fair Projects

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Fun with Mama

Toddler and preschool activities

Written by Brenda • Mar 30, 2022 • Leave a Comment

5-Minute Paper Clip Surface Tension Experiment

Science experiments for kids are one of my favorite things to do at home with my kids. This surface tension experiment is a great way to explore and learn at the same time!

I love watching the wonder in their eyes as they do different science demonstrations and experiments.

However, sometimes I don’t have time to do a long experiment with them. That is why we recently did this paper clip surface tension science experiment while I was making dinner one night.

The kids were fascinated by the results, and I loved that they were learning science right there in my kitchen.

If you’re ready for even more science fun, check out my How To Grow Beans In A Bag – Bean in a Bag Science Experiment for Kids as well!

Easy Paper Clip Surface Tension Experiment

If you want a quick science lesson, it doesn’t get easier than this paperclip surface tension experiment! In less than five minutes, you can demonstrate how surface tension works to kids without getting into any complicated chemistry explanations.

Kids love repeating this simple experiment over and over. This surface tension experiment with paper clip is sure to be a hit.

Surface Tension Science for Kids

Surface tension is a surprising science fact. Water, even though many things sink in it, it has a strong bond between molecules The surface can hold some things on the water, and surface tension is why water beads into drops, instead of always spreading out flat and absorbing into every surface. Objects with a lower density than the surface tension bond of the water can float on top! Many insects can walk on the surface of the water.

While most metals are too dense to float on water, some are not! In this experiment kids will find out what small metal objects will float on the surface of water, and which will sink!

What You Need for this Experiment on Surface Tension

• Small metal objects (paperclip, coin, soda tab, nail, safety pin, etc.)
• Plastic cup (1 per group of kids doing the experiment)

How to Do the Paper Clip Surface Tension Science Experiment

This water surface tension experiment is easy to do and just takes 5 minutes of time. All ages are able to join in on the learning fun.

Fill the cup about halfway with water.

Discuss the properties of water molecules and the basics of surface tension.

Ask the kids which of the object they think will sink and if they think any might float. This is the hypothesis of the experiment.

Let the children gently place each object onto the surface of the water one at a time. Watch what happens to the objects.

In our experiment, everything sank except the metal paper clip and the soda tab. But, you might get different results!

Repeat the test for each object and then have the children discuss whether their original thoughts were proven right or disproven.

The children may want to take this experiment further by testing other objects to see if they can float on the surface of the water. Encourage this as that is scientific discovery at work!

If you want to test out if different liquids will have different results, let the kids try this experiment with milk, soda, and anything else that would be safe for little hands to touch and use!

Anytime that you can take a science experiment and combine it with analytics and critical thinking, it’s a win in terms of a scientific approach.

More Science Activities for Kids

• Fizzing Christmas Science Baking Soda Experiments
• Homemade Thermometer Science Experiment – Making a DIY STEM Thermometer
• Exploding Ziploc Bag Science Experiment for Kids

Brenda MacArthur is a STEM curriculum writer, STEM author, and STEM accessibility advocate. She founded the site STEAMsational.com in 2012 which offers hands-on STEM activities for kids and STEM lesson plans for teachers.

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January 31, 2014 By Chelsey

Science for Kids: Exploring the Surface Tension of Water with Paperclips

Science for kids is one of our favorite topics, and this science activity is a fun one! Kids will have fun predicting how many paperclips they can fit in a full glass of water, and actually trying it out for themselves. This science experiment exploring the surface tension  of water always seems to surprise the kids!

Welcome to another invitation to explore science ! Last week we had fun with Dancing Raisins ! This week we are going to explore the surface tension of water. It’s an experiment that’s sure to inspire a sense of wonder and curiosity in your child! (This post contains affiliate links. Thank you so much for your support!)

Are you following our Science for Kids Pinterest Board?

• Clear glass
• Dropper or pipette
• Lots of paperclips

• Fill your glass of water as high as you can without it spilling.
• Then use a dropper or pipette to add the last few drops, so it’s as full as you can possibly get it. 
• Have your child estimate how many paperclips he or she thinks will fit into the glass before the water overflows.
• Begin dropping the paperclips in one at a time. Older kids may want to keep track of how many they’ve dropped in as they go along. You could arrange your paperclips in piles of tens to keep track easily.
• Keep going until the water finally overflows.

• Set this up on a table that can get wet. There’s sure to be some spills, especially with little ones.
• Even toddlers can get in on the action! Theo wanted to do what his big sister was doing. I put some water in cup and gave him some paperclips. He had lots of fun dropping them into the cup!

Question to Spark More Curiosity & Critical Thinking

How close were you to your estimate? Why do you think so many paperclips were able to fit in the glass?

Here were some comments I caught Lucy making during the experiment: “Why is it not spilling?” ” I think it’s because they’re so tiny.” ” Look how much paperclips are in it!” ” Why don’t the paperclips float?” ~So much thinking going on!

What’s Going On?

Drops of water stick to each other. That’s why the surface of the water bulged and formed a dome when you added the paper clips, which kept the water from spilling out. This is called surface tension . Once too many paperclips were added to the cup, the surface tension was broken, allowing the water to spill over.

Want to go even further?

Even more activities to inspire creativity and critical thinking for various ages.  

• Try this experiment using something other than paperclips. Were the results similar or what you expected?
• Devise ways to easily keep track of counting the paperclips. (Ex. tally marks, number chart etc.)
• Make a list of more questions that you thought about as you did this science activity.
• Try a similar experiment. See how many drops of water can sit on the surface of a penny using a dropper. Was it what you expected? 

 Be sure to also check out:

Exploring Surface Tension

Create a Marble Run

Turn a Penny Green

Amazon.com Widgets

Science Endeavors

Honors Earth Science experiments and ideas

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Tuesday, March 4, 2014

First experiment: floating paper clips.

• Three 500 ml beakers,
• 400 ml of water,
• Twelve paper clips (6 large without plastic coating and 6 small with plastic coating), and
• Rubber gloves.
• Set up materials
• Arrange equipment
• Fill all three beakers with 400 ml of water.
• Bend paper clips
• Put on gloves
• Bend 2 “plain” or “large” paper clips to 90 degrees and bend 2 “plain” paper clips to 180 degrees, leaving 2 unbent
• Repeat bending process with “small,” plastic-coated paper clips.
• Execute experiment with large paper clips
• Drop 1 unbent paper clip into a beaker from a height of 5 cm
• Repeat once for each remaining paperclip shape, reserving a beaker for each shape
• Record results
• Remove paper clips from beakers and replace any spilled water
• Repeat with remaining large paper clips
• This time, paper clips should be placed in the water
• Remove paper clips from water
• Execute experiment with small paperclips
• Repeat above steps with small or “plain” paper clips
• Record and analyze results

3 comments:

I like the setup guys. Well done. In class you mentioned that you had heard this was possible. Maybe posting an update with a link to where you first read about this would be a good idea. You could bust that myth, so to speak.

Great job! I think you did a very good job!!!!

Thanks for your feedback!