AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Water striders are small insects that are adapted for life on top of still water, using surface tension to their advantage so they can “walk on water.” Water acts different at the surface.

Detailed explanation-2: -Insects, such as water striders, and spiders, such as fisher spiders, can glide or scamper across the surface of water. These critters are small enough that their weight can be supported almost entirely by surface tension, the relatively weak forces that hold water molecules together.

Detailed explanation-3: -Walking on water: Small insects such as the water strider can walk on water because their weight is not enough to penetrate the surface. Floating a needle: A carefully placed small needle can be made to float on the surface of water even though it is several times as dense as water.

Detailed explanation-4: -Water striders use the high surface tension of water and long, hydrophobic legs to help them stay above water. Water striders use this surface tension to their advantage through their highly adapted legs and distributed weight.