Hooked on science: Discover the force of air

It's a cool trick you can play on your friends, but best of all it's a science lesson that might get you "Hooked on Science."

Ingredients

• 1 Clear plastic soda bottle
• Nail

Instructions

STEP 1: Using the nail, punch two holes in the clear plastic soda bottle.

STEP 2: Cover each hole with two fingers and fill the bottle with water.

STEP 3: Screw the top on the bottle, remove your fingers, and watch what happens.

STEP 4: Holding the bottle over the sink, remove the top and watch what happens.

Explanation

When you remove the lid from the bottle the air pushes on the water, forcing it out of the holes.

Jason Lindsey is a Science Outreach Educator for the Bootheel Youth Museum. Check out his science blog "Hooked On Science" at jasonthescienceguysblog.blogspot.com for webcasts and experiments that might get you hooked on science. Send him your science questions at jlindsey@bootheelyouthmuseum.org. More science experiments can be found at www.semissourian.com.