I can get more water to stay on a penny than you can! Collaborative pairs determine the volume of liquids that can be contained on the surface of copper pennies and plastic coins. The pairs analyze their results using graphs and go on to design super surfaces capable of holding the most liquid.

Concepts

design, engineering design, surface tension, technology resources

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Instructional Ideas

• Task can be used at the beginning of a lesson on surface tension
• Have the class calculate the volume of a drop of liquid based on the number of drops in a given volume

Classroom Considerations

• Tables need to be level and flat
• Several beakers and pipettes are required

Pros

• Experiment is adaptable to use different types of liquids
• Requires data collection that mimics real-world application

Cons

• None

Common Core

HSG-GMD.A.3 HSG-MG.A.3 MP4 MP6