Hooked on Science: Pingpong launcher

Did you think turkey basters could only be used on Thanksgiving Day to flavor the turkey? Think again.

Materials

* Turkey baster

* Pingpong balls

Instructions

STEP 1: Remove the plastic piece of the turkey baster from the rubber piece.

STEP 2: Place a Ping-Pong ball into the open part of the rubber piece of the turkey baster, squeeze and observe.

Explanation

As the rubber piece of the turkey baster is squeezed, enough force is created to push the Ping-Pong ball out, causing it to shoot through the air.

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