Surface tension is a topic we all know about, and one that learners can learn about at every level. It turns out that it was a pretty big deal for researchers including Agnes Pockels, who published about it in 1893!
Agnes Pockels was caring for her parents and doing chores around the house when she noticed that impurities like oil and soap changed the surface tension of water. She communicated her findings with Lord Rayleigh, who sent them to Nature magazine on her behalf, since she was not a scientist.
http://cwp.library.ucla.edu/articles/pockels/pockels.html https://scientificwomen.net/women/pockels-agnes-81
We can still find the original publication of Ms. Pockels’ letter today. We can even try our hands at reproducing her findings!
https://www.nature.com/articles/048152a0
Introducing the topic
Surface tension makes raindrops roundish, which can be a connection to this Weather Unit Lesson.
Experiencing the Science
Aside from trying all the demos in the videos above, we had a good time expanding on Ye Olde Water Droplets on a Penny demo. (I spent some time pondering whether to call it an “experiment,” but I want to save that term for an authentic question from a learner’s own curiosity and/or an authentic design from a learners own creativity.)
Response/analysis
Multisensory
I love making videos of natural motions and sounds.
Creative
Consider writing a play that involves water molecules, oil molecules, soap, salt, etc. There is also a lot of dance choreography implied by some of these concepts. Choosing music that goes with the motion or MAKING music that goes with flowing water. That’s a thing for sure.
Verbal
Investigate Agnes Pockels and Lord Rayleigh. Why did she contact him, of all people? Why did he care? Why was this news at the time? What else were scientists working on?
Analytical
Recreate Agnes Pockels’ experiment or conduct your own. Try some stuff with the pennies. Make some tables, graph some stuff. What did Ms. Pockels do to measure surface tension?