Surface tension associated with acceleration and change of momentum

[pollalis]

Homework Statement

I have an experiment which is described as: Float a water-soaked ping pong ball in a can of water held more than a meter from a rigid floor. Then drop the can. What happens to the ball as both drop (and what does his say about surface tension)? More dramatically, what happens to the ball, and why, when the can makes impact with the floor?

Homework Equations

acceleration: F=ma --> a=F/m
surface tension: γ=F/L (and to combine with the acceleration: (F=ma) so γ=ma/L
momentum in combination with surface tension: γ=Δρ/Δt*L

The Attempt at a Solution

When you do the experiment, the ball at the beginning is floating, when the can is dropped the ball comes out of the water for the free fall and then when the can comes crashing against the floor the ball goes in the water and then out, floating again on the surface.
So, the surface tension during the free fall decreases. But what happens after?

 

[NateD]

As the can comes in contact with the floor, the momentum and the force from the impact will cause the surface tension to increase, this is why the ball goes out of the water and then comes back in as the surface tension increases.