Hooked on Science: Cup-blowing challenge

Materials

• 3 cups

Instructions

• Step 1: Place one cup inside of another.
• Step 2: Sit the cups on a flat surface. Place the other cup directly in front of the two cups.
• Step 3: Using your breath, gently blow the cup, inside the cup, out and into the empty cup.
• Step 4: Repeat steps 1 through 3. Using your breath, blow the cup, with more force this time, inside the cup, out and into the empty cup. Compare the effects of different strengths of pushes on the motion of the cup. Provide evidence a pattern can be used to predict the future motion of the cup, inside the cup.

Explanation

As you blow air between the two cups, your breath lifts the cup inside the cup, up and out of the cup. This forces the cup into the air and if you do it just right, gravity pulls the cup into the other.