A good example of surface tension is a water strider insect walking on water.
Surface tension is the tendency of liquid surfaces to shrink into the minimum surface area possible. This phenomenon allows insects like the water strider, and even objects denser than water like a needle (if carefully placed), to float on the surface of water.
Here's a breakdown of relevant examples:
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Water Striders: These insects are able to walk on water because their weight is distributed over a large enough area that it doesn't break the surface tension of the water. The surface tension acts like a thin, elastic "skin" on the water's surface.
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Floating a Needle: A small needle, even though denser than water, can be made to float if placed carefully on the surface. The surface tension of the water prevents the needle from sinking, provided the surface isn't disturbed.
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Droplet Formation: Water forms into spherical droplets due to surface tension minimizing the surface area.
In essence, surface tension creates a barrier at the surface of a liquid, allowing certain objects and insects to be supported despite their density or weight.
