Water Properties - Build A Water Bridge (Janica Henzie)

Author

Janica Henzie

Principle(s) Illustrated

  1. Water Adhesion - water molecules stick to other materials

  2. Water Cohesion - water molecules have a strong attraction to other water molecules

  3. Engineering - identify a "problem", design a solution, modify design

Standards

  • Investigation & Experimentation

    • 1.l: Analyze situations and solve problems that require combining and applying concepts from more than one area of science

  • Chemistry

    • 2: Chemical bonds

  • 8.7.c: students know substances can be classified by their properties . . .

Questioning Script

Prior knowledge & experience:

They should have practical knowledge and experience with water. They should have basic problem solving skills.

Root question:

Can you design/build something that transports the water from one beaker to the other with only the supplies given? Beakers can not cross over the "barrier" and supplies can not move back and forth between the beakers. Use the fewest number of supplies possible.

Target response:

Wet the string and then stretch it tightly between beakers. Slowly pour the water and the water will travel along the string to the other beaker.

Common Misconceptions:

Even if students know the adhesive and cohesive properties of water, they will most likely not believe that this is possible.

Supplies

2 beakers (1 with water; 1 empty)

string (3 feet)

various supplies (these are what I used):

ruler (to use as a "barrier")

1 drinking straw cut into pieces (take away one of the pieces to shorten its length)

2 cotton balls

1 1-ounce plastic cup

1 plastic fork

2 paper clips

2 wooden picks (larger than toothpicks)

1 rubber ducky

Photographs and Movies

Water Along String

Water bridge