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    Home » Early Years Science » Racing Lolly Sticks – Surface Tension Experiment

    Racing Lolly Sticks – Surface Tension Experiment

    June 26, 2013 By Emma Vanstone 7 Comments

    How do you make a lolly stick race across water? Would you believe me if I told you all you needed was a drop of washing-up liquid ( dish soap ) and some water to do a fun surface tension experiment?

    surface tension

    Racing lolly sticks – surface tension experiment

    You’ll need

    Water and a large container – we used our water table, but you could even do it in the bath.

    Washing up liquid – dish soap

    Wooden lolly stick

    Instructions

    Fill your container with water. You only need it a couple of cm deep.

    Place the lolly stick on the water. It should float.

    Add a little washing-up liquid at one end of the stick. It should zoom off.

    Racing lolly stick investigation for learning about surface tension

    Why does this work?

    This little investigation is a great demonstration of surface tension. When you have a container full of water, the water molecules below the surface are pulled together equally in all directions, but those on top are pulled together more tightly, as they don’t have water molecules above them. This draws them together to form a kind of ‘skin’ that we call surface tension. It is the surface tension that stops the lolly stick from sinking. When we added washing-up liquid, we disrupted the arrangement of the water molecules, which decreased the surface tension behind the stick.

    Water molecules move from areas of low surface tension to high surface tension, and so the stick moved.

    More surface tension investigations

    Can you make a little boat and see if that moves?

    Ask a friend to blow waves over the surface of the water with a straw, does the surfboard still move when you add the washing-up liquid?

    Can you have a race with a friend? Who can get their lolly stick to the finish line first?

    Another way to demonstrate surface tension is to disrupt cocktail sticks in a bowl of water or to make a hole in a layer of pepper on water!

    More Science for Kids

    If you enjoyed this experiment, we’ve got lots more science for kids you’ll love.

    Try our STEM Challenges, fun experiments for science at home or science fair ideas.

    Racing Lolly Sticks as a Surface Tension Investigation

    Last Updated on March 22, 2023 by Emma Vanstone

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    Safety Notice

    Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

    These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Trisha @ Inspiration Laboratories

      June 28, 2013 at 2:23 pm

      This is a great summer science activity!

      Reply
    2. Carrie

      July 04, 2013 at 4:19 pm

      What a neat and fun lesson!! Thank you for sharing at Sharing Saturday!!

      Reply
    3. Pinkoddy

      July 20, 2013 at 8:36 pm

      Oh I never knew that. I’ve been collecting lollipop sticks and I’m sure my boys will love this activity.

      Reply
    4. chadrack nusi

      March 28, 2014 at 10:19 am

      super

      Reply
    5. Maria Jose Aleman

      October 08, 2015 at 6:13 pm

      cool 🙂

      Reply

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