“Science is seeing what every one has seen but thinking what nobody has thought.” – Albert Szent-Gyorgyi
In a fascinating science experiment, CIE 4 students investigated how surface area influences the speed of evaporation. They used two contrasting containers—a tall, narrow drinking glass and a wide, open bowl. With equal amounts of water poured into each, they checked the water levels every 45 minutes to observe any differences in evaporation rates.
It quickly became clear: the water in the bowl was evaporating much faster than in the glass! The students learned that a larger, open surface area—like that of the bowl—allows more water molecules to escape into the air, dramatically accelerating evaporation.
This hands-on experiment gave students powerful insights into evaporation. They saw firsthand that surface area plays a major role in how quickly water disappears.
