======Dollar Bill Inertia Challenge======


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**Alternative titles:** Newton’s Bottle Trick
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====Summary====                   
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====Procedure====  
  - Place a dollar bill across the mouth of an empty soda bottle.  
  - Stack several heavy, identical coins (such as six quarters) directly on top of the bill, centered over the bottle opening.  
  - With a quick motion, karate-chop the bill out from under the coins without striking the coins or the bottle. The coins should remain on top of the bottle.  
  - For a variation, place another bottle on top of the first one, mouth-to-mouth, with the bill between them. Snap the bill away quickly and watch as both bottles remain in place.



====Links==== 
The Bottle Inertia Challenge - Dollar Bill Snap - Sick Science!: 
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📄 Dollar Bill Inertia Challenge - Steve Spangler: [[https://stevespangler.com/experiments/dollar-bill-inertia-challenge/]]\\

====Variations====
  * Try different types or thicknesses of paper (e.g., cardstock vs. currency).  
  * Test with objects of different masses (empty vs. full cans, lighter vs. heavier coins).  
  * Experiment with different friction levels by using rougher paper, smoother bills, or lubricated surfaces.  
  * Place the bill between other balanced objects and test inertia.



====Safety Precautions====
  * Practice with plastic bottles before trying glass to avoid breakage.  
  * Be careful not to hit the coins or bottles directly—objects may fall and cause injury.  
  * Avoid placing heavy objects where they could fall on feet or toes.  
  * Supervise children attempting this trick.




====Questions to Consider====
  * Why do the coins (or bottles) remain in place when the bill is pulled away quickly? (Because of inertia—the objects resist changes to their state of rest.)  
  * What role does friction play in this experiment? (Less friction between the bill and objects makes it easier for the bill to slide out without moving the objects.)  
  * How would using sandpaper or sticky paper instead of a bill change the outcome? (Increased friction would pull the objects along, making the trick fail.)  
  * How does this experiment illustrate Newton’s First Law of Motion? (Objects stay at rest until acted upon by a strong enough outside force.)