What phenomenon allows small objects to float on water due to cohesion?

The phenomenon that allows small objects to float on water due to the cohesive forces between water molecules is known as surface tension. This occurs because water molecules are cohesive, meaning they are attracted to each other. At the surface of the water, these molecules experience greater attraction to each other than to the air above, creating a sort of "film" on the surface. This film acts like a membrane, providing enough support for small objects—such as a paperclip or a lightweight insect—to rest on the surface without sinking.

Surface tension is a crucial aspect of the behavior of liquids and is a direct result of the cohesive forces that contribute to the unique properties of water. It is also responsible for various phenomena in nature, such as the ability of some insects to walk on water and the formation of droplets.

Contrastingly, buoyancy involves the upward force exerted by a fluid that opposes the weight of an object immersed in it, while hydrodynamics relates to the study of fluids in motion. Capillary action, on the other hand, refers to the ability of water to flow in narrow spaces without the assistance of external forces, which is a different phenomenon altogether. Understanding surface tension clarifies how certain lightweight objects can remain on the surface of water