How is the Surface Tension of Water Affected By Soap?

The purpose of this lab is to

help you develop scientific skills. A grading rubric is provided at the end for your information.

Read the set of instructions below and then design and complete your own
experiment using the Scientific Method. Type a final, formal lab report with
your lab partner that includes a data table and graph formatted in Excel.

Introduction: Surface tension refers to water's ability to "stick to itself". Surface

tension can be measured and observed by dropping water (drop by drop) onto a
penny. The number of water drops that can fit on a penny will surprise you.

1. Initial Observation: Observe surface tension by seeing how many drops of water can fit on a
penny.

Number of Drops ___________

Question/Problem: How does soap affect the water's surface tension?

2. Develop a hypothesis that answers the experimental question. Write your hypothesis below.

3. Test your hypothesis (design an experiment) by comparing the number of drops of tap water
that can fit on a penny to the number of drops of soapy water that can fit on a penny. Because
water drops may vary depending on how well you drop the water, it is best to run many trials and
take an average. Establish a procedure early and follow it exactly each time. Here is an
example of a data table: (you should determine the actual number of trials on your own, as you
design your experiment)

Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 4 Trial 5 Average

Tap Water
Soapy Water

4. Graph and analyze the data, using an Excel spreadsheet.

5. Write a conclusion (using complete sentences!) that explains how soap affects the surface
tension of water, using your data to help you answer the question. Next, suggest a legitimate
reason for your observations (in other words, why did it happen?). You may need to complete
some research into the properties of water to help explain these conclusions. Finally, support or
reject your hypothesis.
Lab Report Template

Title: * a brief, concise, yet descriptive title

Background:

This is where you provide some background and state the problem. What question are you trying
to answer? Include any preliminary observations that you’ve made as well as any background
information about the subject that will help the reader understand your investigation.

Hypothesis:

Write a possible solution for the problem.

Make sure this possible solution is a complete sentence.
Make sure the statement is testable.

Materials:

Make a list of ALL items used in the lab.

Procedure:

Write a paragraph (complete sentences) which explains what you did in the lab. Be sure to
thoroughly explain your methods and strategies. For instance, why were many trials taken and
averaged? Don’t forget to identify your control group and your experimental group, if appropriate.
It is OK to provide a step-by-step (numbered) set of directions. The idea here is that ANYONE
could test your results by repeating the experiment in the same way that you did.

Results (Data):

This section should include any data tables, observations, or additional notes you make during the
lab.

Tip: When graphing data, the independent variable typically goes on the X-axis. Before you graph
the data, be sure to identify the independent variable and the dependent variable in the
experiment, and them place them on the appropriate axes.

Confused? The dictionary defines an independent variable as a hypothesized cause or

influence on a dependent variable. In other words, the independent variable is the variable that
you manipulate in the experiment. The dependent variable “depends” on the independent variable.

Another tip: If you created your graphs in Excel, you should import them into the body of the lab
report rather than attaching them at the end of the report. (Attachments interrupt the flow of the
report.) The headings in your report should follow the order of the Scientific Method.

All tables, graphs and charts should be titled and labeled appropriately. They should be designed
to be self-explanatory.
Analysis:

If you completed any calculations during the investigation, at least one example of the calculations
should be shown in the Analysis section. In this simple experiment, you will simply show how the
trials were averaged. In other experiments, you may need to show formulas or steps related to
your analysis of the data. In addition, the analysis section should help the reader interpret the
trends that are portrayed in the graphs.

Conclusions:

Accept or reject your hypothesis.

EXPLAIN why you accepted or rejected your hypothesis based on the data from the lab.
Include a summary of the data - averages, highest, lowest., etc. to help the reader understand
your results
List one thing you learned and describe how it applies to a real-life situation.
Discuss possible errors that could have occurred in the collection of the data (experimental errors)
and suggestions for further study

Extension: What if the experimental question was "How does salt affect the surface tension of
water?" Describe how you would answer this question using the scientific method. If you have
time, you can test this.

Lab Report Rubric

(4 pts) Excellent (3 pts) (2 pts) (1 pt) (0)

1. Title is relevant and
descriptive
2. First section includes the
question to be answered by
Title, One of the Two of the Three of the
the lab
Background "excellent" "excellent" "excellent"
3. background research missing
and conditions conditions is not conditions is not
and/or sound reasoning
Hypothesis is not met met met
sets the stage for the
experiment
4. Hypothesis (prediction) is
testable.
1. Methods and strategies
are explained Only a
Both
2. A thorough step- by- description or
criteria are Procedure
step list of how the step-by-step list
Methods provided couldn't be missing
experiment was performed of how the
but clarity repeated
is provided or a clear experiment was
is lacking
narrative of the procedure is performed
provided
Results Results and data are clearly Results are Results are Results are missing
(data) recorded, organized so it is clear and unclear, missing present, though
easy for the reader to see labeled, labels, trends are too disorganized
trends. All appropriate trends are not obvious at all or poorly
 not recorded to make
labels are included
obvious sense f
Analysis
somewhat
Analysis lacking
lacking in
in insight, not
The data and observations insight,
enough data was Analysis poor,
are analyzed accurately, enough
gathered to not enough data,
Analysis trends are noted, enough data, missing
establish trends, inaccurate
data was taken to establish though
OR analysis analysis
conclusion additional
does not follow
data would
data
be more
powerful
1. Summarizes the
essential data used to draw
conclusions
2. Conclusions follow data
(not wild guesses or leaps
of logic),
One of the Two of the Three of the
3. Discusses applications of
"excellent" "excellent" "excellent"
Conclusions experiment ("real world" missing
conditions conditions is not conditions is not
connections)
is not met met met
4. Hypothesis is rejected or
accepted based on the data
5. Sources of error
acknowledged
6. Suggestions for further
study
Typed neatly,
organized with Somewhat
headings, lacking in
headings “follow” organization,
Format of
the steps of the multiple
report
Scientific spelling/grammar
Method, few errors, not neat,
spelling/grammar lack of effort
errors

* this lab report format was adapted from Biologycorner.com