How to Measure Surface Tension with a Penny

Water has very unique properties, and this experiment puts them to the test! Follow along with ABC11 Science Club with BASF and discover how to measure surface tension using a simple penny!

Objective: To discover more about the properties of hydrogen bonds and surface tension.

Cohesion is the attraction of like molecules to one another. In this experiment, we're examining like H20 molecules in the water drops. Surface tension describes the cohesion between water molecules.

Water's cohesion and surface tension are unique due to hydrogen bonds. Hydrogen bonds are formed by the hydrogen atoms of one molecule being attracted to the oxygen atoms of another molecule.

Click here to download a PDF of the instructions to print and recreate at home!

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