Show FILM SPREAD OVER WATER WATE i Thin Sheet on Surface Has Properties That Are Very Like Those of India Rubber It seems not to be generally understood understood understood under under- stood that the surface of all aU water Is covered by a film of the water Itself itself- I which In its action Is not unlike that of a thin sheet of India rubber says Edward BIgelow the scout naturalist In n Boys' Boys Life To comprehend this one must Imagine the rubber to be so thin bin as to be transparent The surface of the water Itself Is elastic and under tension so that a needle though hen heaver ter ler er than the water may be floated on the he surface Several Se Interesting experiments may maybe maybe maybe be made with the elasticity of this film One of the best Is to place two slender splinters of wood side sille b by side sille on the water Now drop a little alcohol alco alco- hol 10 between the splinters This alcohol alcohol alco- alco hol 10 will Immediately break brenk the surface surf surf- ace aco film between the splinters and the he pulling force of the remaining film since there is nothing between them themo to o hold them will cause the splinters Instantly to fly apart Another Interesting experiment Is to whittle a thin slender splinter pointed at nt one end somewhat like n loat Place n tm tiny bit hit of gum gUll camphor on the rear of this splinter and the gum will destroy destroy destroy de de- de- de stroy the the- surface film mm so that there will be no pull In in- inthe the rear As there theres Is s a pull In the front not balanced by byone byone byone one In the rear the tiny hay boat will run forward as ns rapidly as the camphor can dissolve the film In the rear Some Interesting little little mn magic lc tricks might be developed from these experiments which would ouid surprise and Instruct your our friends |