The task asks you to conduct a simple science experiment about surface tension using pepper, water, and detergent. Since this is an experimental worksheet, the “answer” isn’t a number or fact — it’s your observation after doing the experiment. But since we can’t do the physical experiment here, I’ll guide you through what *should* happen based on science, so you can write or draw that as your result.
Step-by-step reasoning:
1. You start with a white plate filled with clear water.
2. Then you sprinkle white pepper on top of the water. The pepper floats because it’s light and doesn’t dissolve in water — it sits on the surface due to surface tension (water molecules sticking together).
3. Next, you dip your finger into detergent (like dish soap) and then touch the center of the water where the pepper is floating.
4. What happens? The pepper suddenly shoots away from your finger to the edges of the plate!
Why? Detergent breaks the surface tension of the water. When you add detergent, the water molecules no longer hold tightly together at that spot. The pepper was being held up by that tight surface layer — when it breaks, the pepper gets pushed outward by the still-tight water around the edges.
So for your worksheet:
- Prediction section: You might have guessed the pepper would sink or mix — but actually, it scatters!
- Results section: Draw or write that the pepper moved quickly to the sides when you added detergent.
This shows how detergents break surface tension — which is why they’re good for cleaning greasy dishes!
Final Answer:
When you add detergent to water with floating pepper, the pepper rapidly moves to the edges of the plate because the detergent breaks the water’s surface tension.
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of surface tension worksheet.
