The Sci Guys: Science at Home - Comparing Surface Tension Experiment - Penny Surface Tension

Welcome to science at home episode seven, season three. In this episode we compare the surface tension of multiple liquids by dripping drops of a liquid on a pennies surface. Surface tension can vary a lot between liquids and the bigger the droplet grows before it bursts, the stronger a liquids surface tension is. By the end of this video you will be able to describe what surface tension is, how it helps to create a dome of liquid and why the droplets eventually burst.

Water
Honey
Corn Syrup
Maple Syrup
Olive Oil
Vegetable Oil
Lamp Oil
Cream
Dish Soap
Rubbing Alcohol
Food Colouring
Eye Dropper
Pennies
Small Bowl
Gloves
Lab Coat or Apron
Goggles

Place your penny on a flat stable surface
Pour some of the first liquid you want to test into a small bowl
Fill the eye dropper with the first liquid
Slowly drop one drop at a time of the first liquid onto the surface of the penny
Count how many drops are placed on the pennies surface and continue to add drops until the dome of liquid on the penny bursts
Wash the penny, bowl and any surface the liquid touched
Repeat all steps for each liquid making sure to make note of how many drops each liquids dome held before it burst.

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