Exploration Education Science Curriculum

Science Activity -- "Can Do!"

This activity is a fun way to introduce the concepts of balance and the center of gravity. It is also a great way to amaze your friends.

Materials needed:

One Soda Can

Instructions
Step 1 Take a soda can that is full (of soda or water) and try and balance it on its edge. What happened?
Step 2 This time have the soda can only about 1/3 of the way full (3.5 oz or 100 ml), and try it again. What happened?

How does it work?
When we balance an object, we are finding its balance point, or center of gravity. When the soda can is full, notice where the center of gravity is pushing down. Because the center of gravity is not over the center of where we are trying to balance the can, the can tips over.

Step 3

When we lower the amount of liquid in the can, we also lower and move the center of gravity. Now the center of gravity is directly over where we are trying to balance the can.

This is the same principle as used on an adjustable teeter totter. If you have an adult on one side and a child on the other, the center of gravity will be closer to the adult.

Step6

Try this:
Aside from having fun challenging your friends in balancing the can, if you gently rotate the can it will spin/roll around and around.

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