Traveling Toothpicks Force And Motion Science Experiment
In this fun and easy force and motion science experiment, we’re going to send some toothpicks traveling with a little bit of water and science.
Materials:
- Bowl
- 4 toothpicks
- Liquid dish soap
Instructions:
- Fill the bowl with warm water.
- Place the toothpicks in the water so that they form the shape of a square.
- Now squirt a drop of liquid dish soap on your finger and then touch the water in the middle of the toothpick square.
- This should send the toothpicks ‘traveling’ across the bowl!
Note: To repeat the process, you will need to clean the bowl and use new water and toothpicks.
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How it Works:
The liquid dish soap will break the surface tension of the water. The water molecules will spread out and away from the soap and move toward the edge of the bowl. Since the toothpicks float, they will be carried and “travel” with the water toward the edge of the bowl.
Make This A Science Project:
Try popsicle sticks. Try cotton swabs. Try different temperatures of water.
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