The Action |
Two empty pop cans are placed upright, separated by a short distance on a bed of drinking straws. When air is blown between the two cans with a straw, the two cans will come together. | ||
Grade Level |
Grade 7 - Force and Motion | ||
Materials |
10-15 plastic drinking straws 2 empty aluminum drink cans |
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Instructions |
Lay about 10-15 straws about 1-2 cm apart on a smooth table top. Place two empty aluminum drink cans upright on the bed of straws. With another straw, strongly blow air between the two cans. The cans should move together. |
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Safety |
No safety concerns. | ||
Hints |
The air must be blown directly between the cans and requires fairly strong blowing through the straw. | ||
Science Principle |
This activity demonstrates one aspect of Bernoulli's Principle. Moving air has a lower pressure than stationary pressure. This difference creates an imbalance of pressure on the cans; the pressure on the outside is higher than in between. This difference causes the cans to move toward the area of lower pressure. | ||
Video Clip |
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