I ran across an easy surface tension experiment using soap boats and thought I would give it a twist for Valentine’s Day! Needless to say it was a hit with the three year old and I can’t wait to show my first grader after school. Check this out!
Here’s what you need:
- an index card
- a shallow baking dish
- water
- dish soap
Here’s how you do it:
- Draw a heart on an index card, color, and cut out
- Fill a shallow baking dish halfway with water
- Place the index card heart in the water
- Add a small drop of dish soap to the “V” in the heart and watch the heart zoom along!
What is the science?
The index card heart floats on top of the water due to surface tension. Surface tension is the water molecules creating a skin on the surface of the water. When you add dish soap the surface tension breaks and propels the heart boat forward. Once the surface tension is broken you have to start over with clean water for the second (and third) boats.
This is a definite must to entertain the kiddos for Valentine’s Day! Enjoy!
Leave a Reply