Science Experiments Using Water

Watch the video Uncharted Waters, then ask a grown-up to help you with this activity!

Water is an essential liquid for all living things. Water f lows downhill. Its movement (flow) can be controlled and directed through engineering. Let’s observe the properties of water and be a hydrologic engineer!

Activity: Observing the Properties of Water

What You Need:

• A piece of paper towel
• A piece of wax paper (similar size to the paper towel)
• A cotton swab stick
• Small cup of water

What To Do:

1. Observe the properties of water! Use the cotton swab stick to place one drop of water on the wax paper and one drop on the paper towel.
2. Observe and talk about what you notice. The wax paper repels the water, and the water molecules continue to stick to themselves—keeping a water drop formation on the wax paper. The paper towel attracts the water and it soaks in.
3. Spend time exploring. What happens if you add more water drops? On the wax paper can you move water drops around with your cotton swab stick?
4. Can you observe two water drops pulling together? Do two drops ever join together to make one bigger drop?
5. Which is easier for moving water – wax paper or paper towel? Why? Scientists call it cohesion when water sticks to itself – that’s why drops form on wax paper.