Surface Tension in Space

See how gummy bears help explain fluid dynamics

🌍 Earth Gravity
🚀 Microgravity

How Surface Tension Works

Surface tension is the force that causes water molecules to stick together at the surface, creating a "skin" that minimizes surface area. On Earth, gravity pulls water droplets down, flattening them against surfaces.

In microgravity, surface tension dominates — it pulls water inward equally from all directions, forming perfect spheres. Astronauts use gummy bears and other familiar objects to demonstrate these fluid dynamics principles, which are crucial for spacecraft design, life support systems, and research that benefits life on Earth.

Surface tension pulls water into a sphere in microgravity!
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