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FranLiving things use surface tension to walk on water, by distributing their weight across the water's surface without breaking it. Some insects, like water striders, have adapted to take advantage of surface tension to move and survive on water. They also use it to trap and consume prey, by secreting sticky substances that immobilize their target.
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How do living things like insects utilize surface tension in their daily activities?
Insects use surface tension to walk on water and other liquids. The surface tension of water allows insects to stay on the surface without sinking, helping them move around and find food or mates.
How big can you be and use surface tension to walk across water?
Surface tension can support the weight of small creatures such as water striders or insects that are lightweight and have specialized adaptations like long legs. Larger animals may not be able to use surface tension to walk on water due to their weight exceeding the surface tension's ability to support them.
What is the independed variable when building a raft powered by surface tension?
The independent variable when building a raft powered by surface tension would be the raft design or materials used. By changing these factors, you can observe how they affect the ability of the raft to float and move on the water surface due to surface tension.
What is the significance of surface tension of mercury in relation to its unique properties and behavior?
The surface tension of mercury is significant because it is much higher than that of other liquids, making it behave uniquely. This high surface tension allows mercury to form spherical droplets and flow smoothly, even against gravity. This property contributes to its use in thermometers and barometers.
What is an example of surface tension?
An example of surface tension is when water forms droplets on a glass surface instead of spreading out, because the molecules at the surface are more attracted to each other than to the molecules of the glass. This creates a "skin" on the surface of the water that holds the droplet together.
