Bernoulli’s principle
Time: 10-15 minutes
Materials: bendy straws, ping pong balls
Activity: Ask how birds fly. They use their wings and the shape of their wings helps them fly. It is the same thing that helps make airplanes fly. When air moves faster around one side of something than the other, it creates a force that lifts the thing. This is called Bernoulli’s (burr-noo-leez) principle. We can show this. Head outside. Bend your straw up and demonstrate blowing through the long end of the straw while holding the ping pong ball over the other end. Once you have a steady stream of air, you should be able to let go of the ball and it will hover over the end of the straw. Let the kids try.
Categories:
Nature and Science, Movement, Sensory