Name 1
EXPERIMENTO SOBRE LA TENSIÓN SUPERFICIAL DEL MERCURIO
Name 2
EXPERIMENT ON THE SURFACE TENSION OF MERCURY
ID number
001.77.Almadén
Manager / Administrator
Reyes Ávila Bercial, Cerco San Teodoro, s/n, 13400-Almadén (Ciudad Real)
Ownership
Public
Institution
Minas de Almadén y Arrayanes, S.A
Local / Original ID Number
001.001.003.288
Type of Object
Knowledge, social care
Description
Short description
"In this experiment, we observe mercury inside a container. We can see that it does not extend along its edges, but rather forms a fairly thick side.
If we start the experiment, the bar hits the mercury, which disintegrates into small spheres that maintain their shape, until they quickly regroup when they come into contact with the rest of the mercury.
Why does this happen? This happens because of high surface tension. This surface tension is the result of the great attraction that mercury molecules exert on each other. The molecules located on the surface of the liquid are strongly attracted by those inside so that, if it is divided into small quantities, the mercury takes the form of a small ball. Only when the size of the ball of mercury is increased, its weight becomes greater than the surface tension and, consequently, its shape breaks apart."
If we start the experiment, the bar hits the mercury, which disintegrates into small spheres that maintain their shape, until they quickly regroup when they come into contact with the rest of the mercury.
Why does this happen? This happens because of high surface tension. This surface tension is the result of the great attraction that mercury molecules exert on each other. The molecules located on the surface of the liquid are strongly attracted by those inside so that, if it is divided into small quantities, the mercury takes the form of a small ball. Only when the size of the ball of mercury is increased, its weight becomes greater than the surface tension and, consequently, its shape breaks apart."
Measures
"length: 1.90m
width: 1.10m
height: 2.10m"
width: 1.10m
height: 2.10m"
Materials
Dating
2008
Author / Producer
Minas de Almadén
Illustrations
Original use
Museum and didactic use, interacting with visitors
Present use
Museum and didactic use, interacting with visitors
Original location
Mercury Museum (Mining Park)
Present location
Mercury Museum (Mining Park)
STATE OF CONSERVATION
History of conservation:
Present state
good
Necessary activities:
DOCUMENTATION
Addresses /collections/links etc. where further in-depth information is accessible:
www.parqueminerodealmaden.es
Submitted
AYUNTAMIENTO ALMADEN
Submitted by
Alicia Escudero & Águeda Moyano
Date Submitted
26. 4. 2022
Date Edited
Never