Hooked on Science: Turkey baster pingpong ball 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 of the baster.

STEP 2: Place a pingpong ball into the open part of the rubber piece of the baster, squeeze and observe.

Explanation

As you squeeze the rubber piece of the baster, you create enough force to push the pingpong 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.