Hooked on Science: Snowstorm in a bottle

Materials

• Bicycle pump with rubber stopper
• 1 liter clear plastic bottle
• Polystyrene packing peanuts

Instructions

• STEP 1: Completely fill the clear plastic bottle with polystyrene packing peanuts. Describe the packing peanuts by using their observable properties.
• STEP 2: Attach the pump to the rubber stopper. Attach the stopper to the clear plastic bottle.
• STEP 3: Pump the bicycle pump five times. Remove the stopper and observe. Describe how the bottle can be used as a model to show how matter is made of particles too small to be seen.

Explanation

Pumping air into the bottle increases the air pressure inside the bottle. Once the rubber stopper is removed, the air rushes out, tearing the packing peanuts into pieces and creating an instant snowstorm.