Watch the following video of a basilisk lizard running across the surface of the water. Watch the following video of a basilisk lizard running across the surface of the water.
Before watching the following video of water droplets on a penny, guess how many droplets of water can be placed on a penny before the water runs off.
The water's surface tension helps the lizard run on top of the water and allows the water droplets to build up on the top of the penny. Because of the polar nature of the water molecule they stick to each other. On the penny this results in what appears to be a gravity defying stunt.
The lizard can run across the water because of three things. The shape of the lizard's feet and tail along with the lizard's velocity work with the surface tension of the water to keep the lizard on top. The water molecules' tendency to stick together keeps the speedy lizard from breaking the surface tension so that the lizard doesn't fall in the water.