There's a Monster in Our Pool!

The lazy pepper flakes are having a great time just floating around in their pool. Then a giant finger comes in to join them for a swim. "Yikes! Let's get out of here," scream the pepper flakes as they quickly swim to the edge of the bowl.

    What you'll need:
  • Large Bowl
  • Pepper Shaker
  • Dishwashing detergent
Kids, please remember to wash your hands after doing this experiment. We don't want you to get pepper or detergent in your eyes!
    Instructions:
  • Fill the bowl with some fresh tap water. You've just made a swimming pool for your pepper flake friends!
  • Shake a bunch of pepper into the bowl so that there is a layer of pepper covering the surface of the water.
  • Cover your fingertip with some dishwashing detergent and put your fingertip into the bowl.
  • The pepper will quickly swim away from your gigantic fingertip!

The pepper acts this way because the dishwashing detergent on your fingertip breaks the elastic surface (surface tension) of the water and spreads out in the bowl. This pushes the pepper to the edges of the bowl. This is one of the properties of dishwashing detergent that helps it clean your dishes!

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