Bernoulli's Principle - Can You Hit the Ceiling? (Chris Kipp)

Author

Chris Kipp

Principles Illustrated

Standards

Pressure is a force affecting certain properties of matter (Pascal’s Law, Bernoulli’s Principle, buoyancy). (8.PS.B15)

• Newton’s laws of motion that govern moving objects. (8.PS.B16)

Questioning Script

Prior knowledge & experience:

Students know that wind can carry particles. Strong winds can carry large items.

Root question:

Can anyone in the room use this funnel to propel a ping pong ball all the way to the ceiling?

Target response:

When you create an area of faster air flow, the pressure is less in that area.

1. When you blow air around the ping pong ball it lowers the pressure relative to the air pressure pushing down on the ball.

2. The ping pong ball is kept inside the funnel because of the imbalance between the air pressure outside and inside the funnel.

Common Misconceptions:

1. Blowing air from behind the ping pong ball will propel it forward.

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