What is Matter? Matter is anything that has mass and takes up space, such as water. The photo shows water first falling and filling and collecting at the bottom of the waterfall. When the collected water increases in volume, the water spills over a rock boundary. Water takes up space. Volume is the amount of […]
How Paper Absorbs Water
How Does Water Move Through Paper? Paper is made of plant fibers. In the process of making paper, the fibers overlap forming a massive network of tunnels in all directions throughout the paper. The chemical molecules making up the fibers are attractive to water water molecules. Adhesion is the name of the force of attraction […]
Cohesion: Attraction Between Like Molecules
Cohesion is the attractive force between like molecules, such as between two water molecules or between two syrup molecules. The syrup in the photo forms a single cascading stream because the syrup molecules are attracted to each other. Discover Cohesion Yourself Wet your thumb and forefinger with water. Press these two fingers together, and then […]
Cohesion: Surface Tension
What is Cohesion and How does it Relate to Surface Tension Cohesion is the attraction that like- molecules have for each other. Water molecules have an attraction for each other. This attraction is called cohesion. Surface Tension Surface tension is the skin-like surface of a liquid due to the cohesive forces between the liquid […]
Capillary Action
Capillary Action is also called wicking, which is the ability of a substance to draw another substance into it. In the diagram, three different size glass tubes are standing in a container of colored water. Notice that the water rises to a different height in each of the tubes. The more narrow the tube, the […]
Soap Bubbles
Question: Why doesn’t water form bubbles? Answer: Cohesion is the force between molecules that are alike, such as between water molecules. The cohesion between water molecules too strong to allow the water to form bubbles. The bubbles shown in the photo are made with a solution of soap and water. The soap reduces the force […]
Rain Drop Formation
How do raindrop form? One way that rain drops form is called accretion. This is the process by which cloud droplets (very tiny drops of liquid water forming clouds) combine forming larger drops. This happen when the drops bump into each as well as when they get very near each other. Water molecules have an […]