Hooked on Science: Craft stick chain reaction

Did you know you can create a chain reaction with craft sticks?

Materials

* Several colored craft sticks

Instructions

Step 1

Step 2

STEP 1: Interlock seven colored craft sticks to create this pattern.

STEP 2: Don't let go and then interlock another colored craft stick to the bottom right portion of the pattern.

Step 3

STEP 3: Don't let go, interlock another colored craft stick to the bottom right portion of the pattern. Continue to interlock the colored craft sticks until you run out of colored craft sticks. Let go and observe.

Explanation

As you interlocked each colored craft sticks together you stored energy. Potential energy is stored energy. Once you let go, a chain reaction occurred, causing all of the colored craft sticks to unlock. This is kinetic energy, or energy in motion.

Jason Lindsey is a science outreach educator with Hooked on Science. Check out his website hookedonscience.org for webcasts and experiments that might get you hooked on science.