Water science · Foundation
The wick effect
Make water move against gravity.
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Before you begin
Gather your supplies
- Two equal strips of paper towel
- Two cups with equal water levels
- Ruler, timer and optional food coloring
Use what you have. Purchases are optional and do not affect learning rewards.
See optional suppliesCare and safety
Keep water away from electronics. Food coloring can stain; protect the surface and do not drink the experiment water.
Foundation activity
No prerequisite.
The experiment
Adhesion, cohesion and surface tension move water within small spaces. This foundation prepares you to design and tune a watering wick.
- Predict how high water will rise. Cut two equal strips from the same paper towel and mark a starting line.
- Rest the strips upright with the same short length below the water. Keep cups level and paper supported.
- Measure from the water surface to the wet front at 0, 5 and 10 minutes. Record both heights.
- Compare the strips, describe uncertainty at the wet edge and identify what a practical watering wick needs.
Background reference: U.S. Geological Survey
These instructions are a suggested learning experiment from Seth The Evil. The reference explains the background; it does not certify this experiment or guarantee a result.
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