How do some Insects Walk on Water? It's EduTech Time

Water has an unusual property.

What is it?

Each water molecule is attracted by other molecules around it in all directions. But since the molecules at the surface have no molecules above them, they get attracted inward more strongly. These inward forces of attraction create surface tension, thus making the surface act like a stretched membrane.

Now, the weight of insects like water strider and fishing spider is very less. So, the force that insects' legs exert on the stretched water surface is lesser than the surface tension. Also, as their legs are spread wide apart, their weight gets further distributed among all the legs. Hence, the insects' legs don't sink and just create dimples on the stretched water membrane, helping it walk on water.