2007-01-29 20:16:39 · 4 answers · asked by parthi 1 in Environment
It's because insects aren't heavy and water surface has "skin". So, actually, insects are not walking on water but walking on the skin of water which the weight of the insects aren't heavy enough to break the skin of the water.
2007-01-29 20:29:19 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Surface tension is an effect within the surface layer of a liquid that causes that layer to behave as an elastic sheet. This effect allows insects (such as the water strider) to walk on water, allows small metal objects such as needles, razor blades, or foil fragments to float on the surface of water, and causes capillary action.
2007-01-30 04:29:28 · answer #2 · answered by lady_wensworth 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Insects weigh very little and utilize the surface tension of water to move their way across quickly without breaking that surface tension.
2007-01-30 04:25:54 · answer #3 · answered by Vakari 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just to add: Surface tension is caused by the attraction water molecules have for each other. The water molecule is not symmetric. There is a positive side where both hydrogens are and a negative side where the oxygen atom is. Opposites attract.
2007-01-30 05:33:17 · answer #4 · answered by smartprimate 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋