It is Spring holiday season, and that also means it’s Spring holiday CANDY season! Chances are, you’ve got some jelly beans hanging around your house this time of year… Before enjoying a tasty snack, use them for some physics fun with your child with Jelly Bean Bottle Flipping!
For this experiment, you’ll need three empty and dry plastic water bottles and, of course, lots of jelly beans. If you don’t have jelly beans, don’t fret! This experiment also works with water, as we know from the millions of Water Bottle Flipping Challenge videos on the internet! Add a different amount of jelly beans (or water) to each bottle – one with just one layer of beans, one filled halfway, and one totally full.
The goal of this experiment is to flip the bottles so that they land upright. Flip each of your bottles the same number of times. While you’re flipping, keep track… Which bottle lands upright most often? Ask your child some questions and have him/her make some observations.
- Why do you think the winner flips the best?
- How do you think the level of the jelly beans (or water) affects the flip?
- Is there anything you can do to improve the success of the flip? Perhaps moving your wrist a certain way or changing the angle at which you start the flip? What else can you try?
Watch this great video below to learn about the physics of bottle flipping!
As always, get as creative as you want, and above all, have lots of fun learning together!
We’ll see you right back here next Saturday for another STEAM Saturday activity! Scroll through the rest of our website to learn how Critchlow Adkins is Building Brighter Futures for the children and families we serve!
