Question

Dancing of small pieces of camphor on the surface of water is due to:

• A. Viscosity
• B. Surface tension
• C. Weight
• D. Gravity

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Surface tension

• When small pieces of camphor are placed on the surface of water, they begin to dissolve. Because the pieces are usually irregular in shape, they dissolve unevenly.

• The dissolved camphor lowers the surface tension of the water locally.

• This creates an imbalance of forces: the water with higher surface tension (where less camphor has dissolved) pulls the camphor piece more strongly than the water with lower surface tension. This unequal pull in different directions causes the camphor pieces to dart around or "dance" on the water's surface.