Paper Clip On Water: A Simple Science Experiment For Kids

Learning becomes fun and lot more effective with the help of science experiments. Here is one exciting science experiment that you can conduct at home or in school to make kids understand why and how paper clips float on water.

For this science experiment, you would need paper clips, a bowl of water, tissue paper, and a pencil and eraser.

Now fill the bowl with water. Take a piece of tissue and gently drop that onto the surface of water. Without touching the water or the tissue, try to place a dry and clean clip onto the tissue. Take a pencil to slowly poke the tissue until it sinks down into the water. It may take some effort but the tissue will sink and the paper clip would be left floating on the water.

Kids would be surprised to see the paper clips floating on the water. How does it really happen?

The scientific theory behind this is known as surface tension. There is a kind of skin on the surface of water which holds the water molecules tightly. This surface tension also holds the paper clip which can otherwise not float on the water.

If you place an insect such as a water strider on the water, you would notice that it would walk on the water. The insect uses this skin to walk over the surface of the water.

You can use this science experiment for finding out many other interesting things, such as how many paper clips can the surface tension hold? Does the floating ability of the paper clip depend on its shape and size? How can the surface tension of the liquid be made stronger? Do all liquids have the same surface tension?

To conduct this and many more exciting and experiential science experiments at home or school, you can buy science kits.

Let your kids enjoy learning science!!