Hooked on Science: Mystery egg

Do you have a lot of plastic eggs left over from the Easter holiday? Don't throw them away; they can be used in an experiment that has the egg seeming to defy gravity.

Materials

• Plastic egg

Instructions

STEP 1: Place the plastic egg on its side.

STEP 2: Quickly spin the egg and observe.

Explanation

If you spin the egg fast enough, it will stand on end. The reason, the friction between the egg and the table forces the spinning egg to stand vertically.

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