H2O Olympics
Water molecules have amazing properties that make it one of the most important substances to support life on
Earth. It is able to: (1) stick to itself called cohesion; (2) stick to other things called adhesion; (3) create surface
tension using adhesion and cohesion; and (4) moved upward against gravity called capillary action. These properties
allow plants to use water, blood to move through the body and insects to walk on water.
As you complete the activities below, record your data in the tables provided for you and your partner. You will
determine who wins the WATER OLYMPICS at the end of the activities. Following the activities, answer the
supporting questions with your partner.
ACTIVITY 1: The Rope Climb: How far can water travel up a paper towel?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Twist a piece of paper towel together until it forms something that looks a little like a piece of rope, this
will be the 'wick' that will absorb and transfer the water
Tape one end of the paper towel to the middle of a pencil.
Place the other end of the paper towel into the beaker filled with colored water.
Watch what begins to happen to the movement of water. After 30 seconds, remove the paper towel from
the solution. Measure how far the water travelled up the paper towel for you and your partner.
Draw your observations in the space provided.
ACTIVITY 2: Backstroke: Clipping Along How many paper clips do you think you can suspend on the surface
of water?
1. Take a paper clip and place it on a fork. Make sure the paperclip and fork are
completely dry!!
2. Attempt to place the paper clip on the surface of the water in the petri dish
by placing it flat without breaking the surface tension of the water.
3. Continue to place as many paper clips on the surface as you can in 5 minutes.
Record the data for you and your partner in the table.
4. Draw what the paper clips look like on the surface of the water.
ACTIVITY 3: The Balance Beam How many drops of water can fit on the head of a penny?
1. Predict how many drops of water can fit on the head of a penny.
2. Using a dropper, place as many drops of water on the head of your penny until the water
runs over the edge of the penny. Observe what is happening to the water on the head of
the penny as you complete this activity.
3. Record the number of drops for you and your partner in the table.
4. Draw a diagram to show what the water looks like on the penny before you added the last
drop of water that caused the water to run over the edge.
ACTIVITY 4: The Relay Race How fast can you combine 5 drops of water into one drop?
1. Place five drops of water onto the wax paper about 1 inch apart.
2. With a toothpick, try to combine the water droplets into one large drop.
3. Record how long it takes for you to create the large drop on the wax paper.
Name Partner #1_____________________Name Partner #2_____________________
H2O Olympics Data Sheet
Pre-lab Activity
Fill in the blanks below before beginning any of the activities.
Water molecules have amazing properties that make it one of the most important substances to
support life on Earth. It is able to do the following:
 Stick to itself- C_____________
 Stick to other things- A______________
 ADHESION + COHESION= S____________ T_____________
 Move upward against gravity- C_____________ A_____________
These properties allow plants to use water, blood to move through the body and insects to walk
on water.
As you complete the activities below, record your data in the tables provided. Following the
activities, answer the supporting questions.
ACTIVITY 1: The Rope Climb: How far can water travel up a paper towel?
Partner #1 Distance Water Traveled (cm)
Partner #2 Distance Water Traveled (cm)
What property of water explains why the
water moved up the paper towel?
Diagram your results
ACTIVITY 2: Backstroke: Clipping Along How many paper clips do you think you can
suspend on the surface of water?
Partner #1 Number of paper clips
Partner #2 Number of paper clips
What property of water explains why paper
clips float on the surface of the water?
Diagram your results
ACTIVITY 3: The Balance Beam How many drops of water can fit on the head of a penny?
Partner #1 Number of water drops
Partner #2 Number of water drops
What properties of water explain why the
water formed a dome over the surface of
the penny?
Diagram your results
ACTIVITY 4: The Relay Race How fast can you combine 5 drops of water into one drop?
Partner #1 Time to combine the drops
Partner #2 Time to combine the drops
What properties of water explain why the
water formed a large drop from the smaller
ones?
Diagram your results
Water Olympics Post Lab Questions
1. Water has partially charged ends that tend to stick together. Explain the charges on the
hydrogen and oxygen atoms. What is this type of molecule called?
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2. Contrast cohesion and adhesion. Give an example of how living things take advantage of these
properties.
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3. Explain what capillary action is and how it helps water move in living things.
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4. Water is known as a universal solvent. Explain what this means and how this is important to
living things.
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