Dora DePaolis Aim: Applying the Scientific Method to the Study of Surface Tension Do Now: Review research regarding

surface tension Objectives: Students will be able to define & apply the scientific method to the study of surface tension Science Standard 4 Students will understand and apply scientific concepts, principles, and theories pertaining to the physical setting and living environment and recognize the historical development of ideas in science. Core Curriculum Standard 1
Students will use mathematical analysis, scientific inquiry, and engineering design as appropriate, to pose questions, seek answers, and develop solutions. Key Idea 1: The central purpose of scientific inquiry is to develop explanations of natural phenomena in a continuing and creative process.

Materials: Dishwashing detergent, Q-tips, wooden toothpicks, small metal paperclip, nail, rock, blow-up ball / toy, SmartBoard presentation Procedures: Take attendance Conduct Do Now Activity o View picture of bug standing on water o Research taken from: http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/zoo00/zoo00126.htm Define Surface Tension o Surface of the liquid acts differently than the rest of the liquid Why do items float? o Use shade on Smartboard to cover half of slide Brief Review of Density using blow up pool toy and rock Which is bigger? (pool toy) Which weighs more? (Rock) Why? (Density) Pool toy is mostly air, which is less dense than water floats; Just like how air bubbles always float to the top of water o If floating due to density breaking surface tension has no impact. o If floating due to surface tension, item will stop floating if surface tension is broken To help you understand surface tension Ive set up a demonstration o Set out three glasses filled with water o Students vote on whether paperclip, toothpick or nail will float, note votes on SmartBoard note results on SmartBoard slide o Place items in water note results on SmartBoard What happens when we break surface tension by adding dish soap to the glasses of water holding the toothpick & paper clip

Ask 2 students to come to the front of the room to observe that Im adding detergent to water not to the top of the paper clip. o Note results in chart In this demonstration we looked at the surface tension of water, but lets see what happens when we use a different liquid like milk. Step 1: Name the Problem: Will dish soap impact the surface tension of whole milk? Step 2: Research o View video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6T3C-0-Djas&feature=related o Start of experiment where was the food coloring? (floated at the top of the milk) Why didnt the coloring spread throughout the milk? (surface tension) o Did adding the dish soap affect the food coloring? (yes) o Why? (Dish soap broke surface tension allowed food coloring to spread through milk) Step 3: Hypothesis o Detergent will break the surface tension of the milk Step 4: Perform the experiment o Break students into 4 groups at different stations within the lab; Ms. DePaolis, Mr. Wolf, Ms. Holtz & Ms. Brown supervise each group o Each student in group drips in food coloring, except for 1 student that dips Q-tip in dish soap and then milk. o At the conclusion of the experiment, students return to their seats and milk mixture is poured down the sink. o Ask student to list materials used for the experiment o Ask students to list the procedure followed during the experiment Step 5: Collect Data o Ask students to list observations Step 6: Conclusion o What can we conclude about the impact of dish soap on the surface tension of milk? Key Question: How do we apply the scientific method to the study of surface tension in milk? Assessment: Students verbal responses Unit test to follow Conclusion: Review scientific method Answer any remaining questions the students may have