Watch Hydrophobic Steel Balls Cut Through Water With No Drag
Hydrophobic molecules are those with a chemical characteristic that repels them from water, examples being the alkanes, oils, fats, and greasy substances in general. The air around hydrophobic materials, in this example a steel ball, aids in keeping the water from slowing down the object, and in this video by the YouTube channel The Action Lab, the engineer shows you how hydrophobic steel balls can generate an aerodynamic air pocket that cuts through the water with almost no drag.
If you're curious to see more science demonstrations like this one, you're in luck because The Action Lab has many more of them. After watching the video embedded above, you can jump to this one where he builds a bizarre 'floating table' held up by strings only or this one where he runs off a car going the same speed as it's moving forward. Can you guess whether he'd fall off or stay with it? Enjoy!