Funnel Fun

Here is a challenge that can be turned into a great learning moment.

Place a ping pong ball on a table and gently blow on it so it skitters all over the table. Then place it in a funnel and issue this challenge:

"By holding this funnel vertically up from your mouth and blowing in a long continuous breath who can get the ping pong ball to rise all the way out of the funnel, about 3 inches?"

This doesn't look terribly hard so you may have a few takers. Let them try. That ping pong ball isn't going anywhere. Because of air pressure factors, the ball is basically spinning in the cup of the funnel and does not move up at all.

Be careful of two things: no short blasts of breath allowed and clean the pipe of the funnel with alcohol or have a few funnels standing by if you let a number of people try the trick.

Key Learning Points
Things often look easier than they are.
Adding pressure doesn't necessarily get things moving.
Just because a technique works in one situation, doesn't mean it will work in all situations.


Try it, this might come in handy at your next summer barbeque