Water Bottle Experiment

This science experiment also makes a great water toy!  Add it to your collection from yesterday!

You need:

Empty water or pop bottle

Thumbtack

Water

Pan

1)  Poke holes with the thumbtack a few inches up from the bottom of the bottle.  I made a line of holes around the bottle.

2)  Fill the bottle with water, place the cap back on, and put in a pan.

3)  Experiment!  What happens when you take the lid off?  When you put it back on?  Twist if off a little bit?

When the lid is on the bottle air pressure cannot push the water through the holes.  Take it off, and the water starts pouring through the holes.  When the lid is on, surface tension (water's "skin") keeps most of the water from leaking out.  For a more detailed explanation, check out Steve Spangler's Science website.