Straws and Suction: An Uplifting Experience

Straws and Suction: An Uplifting Experience

Science Process Skills

observing

communicating

comparing and measuring

applying

Materials

20 1/4" diameter clear drinking straws

1 roll of duct tape

2 liter plastic soda bottle, empty, clean

marker

measuring tape or ruler

Doing the Activity

Fill bottles half to three-quarters full with lukewarm water.

Provide 10 straws for each team.

Insert the straw into the bottle. One at a time, join additional straws with duct tape. Test after each addition to see if the participants can draw water up the straw. Check for air leaks.

Mark the highest level of the liquid in the straw for each trial. (Note: The straw must be in a vertical position when you draw water up through the straw.) Use a ladder if necessary.

Release the liquid, take the straw out of the bottle, and measure the highest mark, in inches, with a measuring tape or ruler. Record the measurement on the data table.

Record measurements on a graph.

Reflecting

Look at your data results. What does it show? What factors (variables or conditions) might account for the differences?

How many inches of water were you able to suck up your straw? Compare with someone else in your group. How did they do the activity different from you?

Applying

What would happen if you tried this activity with a different liquid such as soda? A different container like a bucket? A larger or smaller straw?

What's Happening

This experiment represents a closed system where the water and the straw are sealed. The sucking of the straw reduces the pressure inside the straw causing barometric pressure to push the liquid from the bottle up the straw. Water can only climb to a certain height before it vaporizes.

More Challenges

Place your 2 liter bottle at the bottom of a stair case. How many flights of stairs can you suck the liquid up? What happens if you change the liquid?

Activity Source

Minnesota Science, Technology and Math Week 1997, 6th floor Capitol Square Building, 550 Cedar Street, St. Paul, MN 55101.

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	Straws and Suction: An Uplifting Experience
	Science Process Skills observing communicating comparing and measuring applying
	Materials 20 1/4" diameter clear drinking straws 1 roll of duct tape 2 liter plastic soda bottle, empty, clean marker measuring tape or ruler
	Doing the Activity Fill bottles half to three-quarters full with lukewarm water. Provide 10 straws for each team. Insert the straw into the bottle. One at a time, join additional straws with duct tape. Test after each addition to see if the participants can draw water up the straw. Check for air leaks. Mark the highest level of the liquid in the straw for each trial. (Note: The straw must be in a vertical position when you draw water up through the straw.) Use a ladder if necessary. Release the liquid, take the straw out of the bottle, and measure the highest mark, in inches, with a measuring tape or ruler. Record the measurement on the data table. Record measurements on a graph.
	Reflecting Look at your data results. What does it show? What factors (variables or conditions) might account for the differences? How many inches of water were you able to suck up your straw? Compare with someone else in your group. How did they do the activity different from you?
	Applying What would happen if you tried this activity with a different liquid such as soda? A different container like a bucket? A larger or smaller straw?
	What's Happening This experiment represents a closed system where the water and the straw are sealed. The sucking of the straw reduces the pressure inside the straw causing barometric pressure to push the liquid from the bottle up the straw. Water can only climb to a certain height before it vaporizes.
	More Challenges Place your 2 liter bottle at the bottom of a stair case. How many flights of stairs can you suck the liquid up? What happens if you change the liquid?
	Activity Source Minnesota Science, Technology and Math Week 1997, 6th floor Capitol Square Building, 550 Cedar Street, St. Paul, MN 55101.