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The oil on their feet is strong enough to repel the water and there weight is spread out enough that when their feet touch the water, the oil and the water repel each other like when you pour oil on water the oil floats on the top... same principle

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โˆ™ 13y ago
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โˆ™ 10y ago

Surface tension allows some small insects to walk on water. Surface tension is the force that holds water molecules together, and it tends to be strongest at the surface. In order to have the ability to use surface tension to walk on water, an insect must have dense leg hairs that provide some water resistance.

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โˆ™ 13y ago

Surface tension of the water is greater than the the downward force of gravity on the insect.

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โˆ™ 12y ago

The water tension supports their weight.

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Q: How are small insects able to walk on the surface of water?
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Which property of water allows insects to walk on water?

Certain insects (ones with a very light weight) are able to walk on water as their weight does not break the surface tension of the water. Water has a very high surface tension, therefore easily breaking and not supporting weight above a certain limit.


What are the insects that use their skin to walk across thd surface of the stream?

Insects that are able to walk across the surface of water are called water striders. Water striders make use of the high surface tension of water together with their long, hydrophobic legs to stay above water.


Why some insects can walk on water without sinking?

Some insects, such as water striders, can walk on water due to their lightweight bodies and special adaptations. They have hydrophobic hairs on their legs that create surface tension, allowing them to distribute their weight effectively and stay afloat. Additionally, their long legs help to evenly distribute their weight over a larger area, preventing them from breaking through the water's surface.


Why does a pond skater insect not sink?

A pond skater insect is able to stay afloat on the water due to its long, hydrophobic legs that distribute its weight evenly and create a water-repellent surface tension. This allows the insect to "skate" on the water's surface without breaking through.


How small insects such as the pond skater can walk on water?

The cohesive forces between liquid molecules are responsible for the phenomenon known as surface tension. The molecules at the surface of a glass of water do not have other water molecules on all sides of them and consequently they cohere more strongly to those directly associated with them (in this case, next to and below them, but not above). It is not really true that a "skin" forms on the water surface; the stronger cohesion between the water molecules as opposed to the attraction of the water molecules to the air makes it more difficult to move an object through the surface than to move it when it is completely submersed. Pond skating insects reveal water-walking secrets as they effortlessly skip across the surface leaving nothing but a tiny ripple in their wake, according to a new study. The insects use the middle of their three pairs of legs to row across the water, creating vortices with the tiny hairs that cover their legs, similar to the swirling vortices created just beneath the surface by am oar when it slices the water that twist away and propel the boat forward. The hairs, the only part of the insectโ€™s body that penetrates the water, are covered in a waxy substance that keeps water out by allowing bubbles to attach to them which have drawn the attention of materials scientists looking for a permanent waterproofing material that doesnโ€™t wash off. With these two combined, this is how the insect can walk on water

Related questions

Which property of water allows insects to walk on water?

Certain insects (ones with a very light weight) are able to walk on water as their weight does not break the surface tension of the water. Water has a very high surface tension, therefore easily breaking and not supporting weight above a certain limit.


What are the insects that use their skin to walk across thd surface of the stream?

Insects that are able to walk across the surface of water are called water striders. Water striders make use of the high surface tension of water together with their long, hydrophobic legs to stay above water.


Why are some insects able to move around on the surface of a lake or pond?

Some insects are able to move around on a lake or pond because of the surface tension of the lake or pond.


An insect is able to walk across the surface of a pond without sinking because of the?

Insects are able to walk across bodies of water without sinking because of their weight. Insects weigh literally nothing.


How can small insects such as pond skater walk onwater?

Water has a retention rate, if the insect it lighter than what it would take to break the retention then it would be able to float on the surface without being submerged.


The ability of some organisms to be able to walk on water is due to which property of water NAME the property?

The property of water allowing some insects and other animals to walk on its surface is called "surface tension".


Of what advantage is the floating behavior of a bullfrog?

The advantage of floating to a bullfrog means that they are able to collect insects off the surface of the water. Bullfrogs eat insects as large as dragonflies.


How big can you be and use surface tension to walk across water?

Surface tension can support the weight of small creatures such as water striders or insects that are lightweight and have specialized adaptations like long legs. Larger animals may not be able to use surface tension to walk on water due to their weight exceeding the surface tension's ability to support them.


Explian how insect walk on water?

Pond skating insects reveal water-walking secrets as they effortlessly skip across the surface leaving nothing but a tiny ripple in their wake, according to a new study. The insects use the middle of their three pairs of legs to row across the water, creating vortices with the tiny hairs that cover their legs, similar to the swirling vortices created just beneath the surface by am oar when it slices the water that twist away and propel the boat forward. The hairs, the only part of the insectโ€™s body that penetrates the water, are covered in a waxy substance that keeps water out by allowing bubbles to attach to them which have drawn the attention of materials scientists looking for a permanent waterproofing material that doesnโ€™t wash off.


Why is an insect able to walk across the surface of a pond without sinking?

Insects that have the ability to walk on water have feet that are spread very far apart. This allows their weight to be distributed over a larger area and stops them from breaking the surface tension of water molecules sticking together.


How can a mosquito walk on water?

There are several insects that can walk on water due to the water's surface tension. There are over 300 species of water striders that are able to walk on water, as well as several species of ant.


How does surface tension helps organisms?

Surface tension allows organisms to walk on water, like certain insects do, by supporting their weight. It also helps organisms trap and feed on prey by creating sticky surfaces, like on the tentacles of some aquatic animals. Additionally, surface tension can assist in regulating water loss in organisms that live in arid environments.