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Water is the most important compound to life on Earth. It is a simple molecule that consists of one oxygen atom and two hydrogen atoms. Water molecules like to stick together. Even though the oxygen atoms have two hydrogen atoms each, they still like to slightly attract other hydrogen atoms. This force is what causes water to stick together; it is called surface tension. Also, because of the molecules, water does not like to be squeezed or forced in to tight spaces. When water is squeezed, the force that pushes back is called water pressure.

In this Top Test Tube, you will discover a wild and wacky variety of hydro experiments that make use of surface tension and air and water pressure!

Vortex tubeSyringe squeezeFun fountainSiphonSticky Water

Investigate the liquid properties of water with:

EIN-O'S INTRO

5 WATERY WONDERS

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Water is the most important compound to life on Earth. It is a simple molecule that consists of one oxygen atom and two hydrogen atoms. Water molecules like to stick together. Even though the oxygen atoms have two hydrogen atoms each, they still like to slightly attract other hydrogen atoms. This force is what causes water to stick together; it is called surface tension. Also, because of the molecules, water does not like to be squeezed or forced in to tight spaces. When water is squeezed, the force that pushes back is called water pressure.

In this Top Test Tube, you will discover a wild and wacky variety of hydro experiments that make use of surface tension and air and water pressure!

Vortex tubeSyringe squeezeFun fountainSiphonSticky Water

Investigate the liquid properties of water with:

EIN-O'S INTRO

5 WATERY WONDERS

3 4What you have: Vortex tubeWhat you need: 2 empty plastic bottles, water

Fill one of the bottles full with water.Connect the two bottles using the Vortex tube.Turn the bottles upside down. What happens?You will notice that, even though some water spills into the bottom bottle, water will quickly stop flowing down. This is because the bottom bottle is already full of air, so water cannot enter the bottom bottle.Now, swirl the water around to create a mini tornado (also called a vortex). What happens now?

VORTEX TUBE

TRY THIS!

When you swirl the water, water moves in a circular motion. When you see the vortex, you will notice that it is really water spinning around a column of air. This air column allows air to move up from the bottom bottle, and hence water from the top bottle can flow down.

WHY IT WORKS

a)b)c)

d)

VORTEX TUBE

BOTTLEWITH WATER

3 4What you have: Vortex tubeWhat you need: 2 empty plastic bottles, water

Fill one of the bottles full with water.Connect the two bottles using the Vortex tube.Turn the bottles upside down. What happens?You will notice that, even though some water spills into the bottom bottle, water will quickly stop flowing down. This is because the bottom bottle is already full of air, so water cannot enter the bottom bottle.Now, swirl the water around to create a mini tornado (also called a vortex). What happens now?

VORTEX TUBE

TRY THIS!

When you swirl the water, water moves in a circular motion. When you see the vortex, you will notice that it is really water spinning around a column of air. This air column allows air to move up from the bottom bottle, and hence water from the top bottle can flow down.

WHY IT WORKS

a)b)c)

d)

VORTEX TUBE

BOTTLEWITH WATER

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What you have: 2 syringes, tubingWhat you need: water

Make sure the plunger of one syringe is up and the other syringe’s plunger is down. Fix the tubing to the small openings of the syringes. Take one syringe each in each hand and start to squeeze the plungers. What happens? Note how “springy” the air in the tubing is as you squeeze the plungers.Next, fill the tubing with water and repeat. This time, how “springy” is the water in the tubing? Is it harder when you now squeeze the plungers?

a)

b)c)

d)

SYRINGE SQUEEZE

TRY THIS!

Water molecules are a bit more rigid than air molecules. Water molecules also don’t like to get too close to each other. Therefore, you will find that air is more “springy” than water.

WHY IT WORKS

SQUEEZE

SYRINGEWITH WATER

TUBING

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What you have: 2 syringes, tubingWhat you need: water

Make sure the plunger of one syringe is up and the other syringe’s plunger is down. Fix the tubing to the small openings of the syringes. Take one syringe each in each hand and start to squeeze the plungers. What happens? Note how “springy” the air in the tubing is as you squeeze the plungers.Next, fill the tubing with water and repeat. This time, how “springy” is the water in the tubing? Is it harder when you now squeeze the plungers?

a)

b)c)

d)

SYRINGE SQUEEZE

TRY THIS!

Water molecules are a bit more rigid than air molecules. Water molecules also don’t like to get too close to each other. Therefore, you will find that air is more “springy” than water.

WHY IT WORKS

SQUEEZE

SYRINGEWITH WATER

TUBING

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What you have: Fun Fountain bung, 2 strawsWhat you need: 2 empty plastic bottles, water

Fix the 2 straws to the Fun Fountain bung, with each straw pointing in opposite directions to the other.Fill one plastic bottle about 3/4 full with water.Screw the two plastic bottles on to the Fun Fountain bung.Turn your bottles over and watch the gushing fountain!

a)

b)c)d)

FUN FOUNTAIN

TRY THIS!

The reason why there is a gushing fountain is because when water leaves the top bottle, it squeezes the air in the bottom bottle. At the same time, the air pressure in the top bottle is becoming lower. This causes the higher air pressure from the bottom bottle to move to the top bottle, and water coming down gets pushed backed up. This creates the gushing fountain!

WHY IT WORKS

FUN FOUNTAINBUNG

BOTTLEWITH WATER

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What you have: Fun Fountain bung, 2 strawsWhat you need: 2 empty plastic bottles, water

Fix the 2 straws to the Fun Fountain bung, with each straw pointing in opposite directions to the other.Fill one plastic bottle about 3/4 full with water.Screw the two plastic bottles on to the Fun Fountain bung.Turn your bottles over and watch the gushing fountain!

a)

b)c)d)

FUN FOUNTAIN

TRY THIS!

The reason why there is a gushing fountain is because when water leaves the top bottle, it squeezes the air in the bottom bottle. At the same time, the air pressure in the top bottle is becoming lower. This causes the higher air pressure from the bottom bottle to move to the top bottle, and water coming down gets pushed backed up. This creates the gushing fountain!

WHY IT WORKS

FUN FOUNTAINBUNG

BOTTLEWITH WATER

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a)b)

c)

The stickiness, or surface tension, of the water inside the beaker makes it stick to the gauze to form a “lid”. This is why the water in the upside-down beaker does not fall out.

WHY IT WORKS

What you have: beaker, gauze, card, rubber bandWhat you need: card, water

Use the rubber band to fix the gauze over the beaker. Fill the beaker with water and then cover it with a piece of card. Carefully turn the beaker upside down, using one hand to hold the card against the beaker. Now, remove the card. What happens?

STICKY WATER

TRY THIS!

REMOVE

RUBBER BAND

CARD

GAUZE

BEAKER

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a)b)

c)

The stickiness, or surface tension, of the water inside the beaker makes it stick to the gauze to form a “lid”. This is why the water in the upside-down beaker does not fall out.

WHY IT WORKS

What you have: beaker, gauze, card, rubber bandWhat you need: card, water

Use the rubber band to fix the gauze over the beaker. Fill the beaker with water and then cover it with a piece of card. Carefully turn the beaker upside down, using one hand to hold the card against the beaker. Now, remove the card. What happens?

STICKY WATER

TRY THIS!

REMOVE

RUBBER BAND

CARD

GAUZE

BEAKER

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What you have: 2 containers, tubingWhat you need: water

Fill one container with water and hold it higher than the other container.Place one end of the tubing in to the water and point the other end down towards the empty container.Briefly suck the end of the tubing to make the water flow from the higher container to the lower container. Does the water flow?

a)

b)

c)

SIPHON

TRY THIS!

Air pressure acting on the water in the higher container pushes the water through the tube and in to the lower container.

WHY IT WORKS

CONTAINERWITH WATER

CONTAINER

TUBING

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What you have: 2 containers, tubingWhat you need: water

Fill one container with water and hold it higher than the other container.Place one end of the tubing in to the water and point the other end down towards the empty container.Briefly suck the end of the tubing to make the water flow from the higher container to the lower container. Does the water flow?

a)

b)

c)

SIPHON

TRY THIS!

Air pressure acting on the water in the higher container pushes the water through the tube and in to the lower container.

WHY IT WORKS

CONTAINERWITH WATER

CONTAINER

TUBING

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