Question

carla makes a small cardboard boat and floats it in a tub of water. when she adds a drop of dish soap behind the boat, the boat moves forward. which statement best explains what happened? the soap increased the viscosity of the water behind the boat, allowing the water in front of the boat to flow more easily. the soap reduced the surface tension behind the boat, causing both water molecules and the boat to be pulled forward. the soap increased the kinetic energy of the water molecules behind the boat, causing both the molecules and the boat to move forward. the soap formed an immiscible layer on the water, causing the soap to spread out and push the boat forward.

Explanation:

Soap is a surfactant. Surfactants reduce the surface - tension of a liquid. When dish soap is added behind the boat, the surface tension behind the boat is decreased. The higher surface tension in front of the boat then pulls the boat forward as well as the water molecules.

Answer:

The soap reduced the surface tension behind the boat, causing both water molecules and the boat to be pulled forward.