Go Fish, Go!

Teach your children how surface tension works by making a paper fish, fueled by soap, swim across the water.

Fun Facts/Information:

• Surface tension energy occurs all around us:
  • Water molecules like to stick together.
  • Some insects, like the water slider, can walk across water.
  • Leaves float and water forms droplets on things like pennies.
    
• Cold water has more surface tension than hot water.

Materials:

• Fish template
  
• Index cards or cardstock
  
• Writing utensil
• Scissors
• Large, rectangular pan or cookie sheet (with one-inch high sides)
• Water
• Liquid dish soap

Procedure:

• Gather materials.
• Explain that the soap will act as the fuel for the paper fish, creating surface tension.
• Trace, or draw freehand, a two-inch fish on an index card or cardstock.
• Cut out the fish drawing.
• Cut a small, rectangular slit in the back of the fish’s tail.
• Fill the tray ¾ of the way with cold water.
• At one end of the tray, place the paper fish in the water.
• Place a small drop of dish soap at the back of the fish, where you made the rectangular slit.
• Watch as the fish speeds across the tray!

Extensions:

• Become an engineer by designing and testing different fish templates.
• Draw your own fish. Do they all work the same? Do some work better than others?
• Use various materials to make the fish.
• Does the experiment work if you use an aluminum foil fish? What happens if you use a leaf instead of a fish cut-out?

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