Science 101: What Causes Water's Surface Tension?

by: James Kessler

The term “surface tension” is commonly used to explain phenomena like a paper clip resting on the surface of water or the “dome” of water that forms on a penny when water is carefully added to it drop-by-drop. You can also see surface tension in action as a water strider dents the surface of water but doesn’t break through. In this article a scientist explains why water has surface tension.

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Type Journal ArticlePub Date 5/1/2003Stock # sc03_040_08_21Volume 040Issue 08

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