Final answer:
Surface tension is a result of cohesion and adhesion where cohesion causes water molecules to stick together and adhesion allows the interaction with other substances like a paper clip, without breaking the surface. It has real-life applications such as allowing insects to walk on water and plants to draw water from the roots upwards.
Step-by-step explanation:
Your ability to float a paper clip on water is attributed to surface tension, which is a result of the cohesive forces between water molecules creating a type of 'skin' on the water's surface. Cohesion refers to the attraction between water molecules, which is strong due to hydrogen bonding, and this allows for the development of surface tension. On the other hand, adhesion is the attraction between water molecules and other materials, and this comes into play when water interacts with the paper clip, allowing the clip to interact with the water without breaking the surface tension.
In real life, surface tension has many applications. For instance, it allows insects like water striders to walk on water's surface without sinking. It is also crucial in the biological process of capillary action, which enables plants to transport water from roots to leaves, essential for their survival.