Magic Trick with Toothpicks
You are on a secret mission where you act like real scientists and magicians at the same time. Here comes your secret guide for the experiment where you stick toothpicks through a bottle filled with water without spilling any. Sounds crazy? It is! But with a little skill, you can do it!
What you'll need
- Transparent bottle
- Gauze bandage or kitchen towel
- Rubber band
- Toothpicks
- Bowl
How it works
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Fill your bottle to the brim with water. Now take the gauze bandage or kitchen towel. Wrap it around the opening of the bottle and secure it with the rubber band. It needs to be tight so that no water can escape when the show begins.
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Now comes the exciting part! Turn the bottle over with a swift but safe grip. It's best to do this over a bowl in case a little water spills at first. But you will see that if everything is done correctly, no water will come out of the bottle.
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Now it gets thrilling! Take a toothpick and carefully poke it through the gauze bandage or towel into the bottle. The toothpick rises, and – drum roll – the water stays where it is! Like magic!
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The water doesn't flow out due to air pressure pushing from the outside like an invisible blanket. The towel also acts as a barrier that is big enough to hold back the water droplets but small enough to allow the toothpick to enter.
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You can make the experiment more exciting by seeing how many toothpicks you can insert before the water starts to drip. Or try it with different liquids. How does oil compare to water?
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And now get to the bottles, show what you can do, and most importantly: Have fun! Share your successes, your failures, and everything in between with your friends or siblings.
What kids learn from this
- Curiosity & scientific thinking
