======The Spinning Can======


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**Alternative titles:** Newton’s Laws Water Can Demo
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====Summary====                   
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====Procedure====  
  - Take an empty soda can with its pull-tab intact (or a soup can).  
  - Use a nail or ice pick to make four small, equally spaced holes around the bottom rim.  
  - As you punch each hole, push the tool sideways so each hole is slanted in the same direction.  
  - Bend the can’s pull-tab upward and tie fishing line to it. For a soup can, punch two holes near the top rim and run string through them.  
  - Submerge the can in water until it is completely full.  
  - Lift the can using the string over a bucket or tub.  
  - Watch as water streams out of the slanted holes, causing the can to spin.



====Links==== 
Spinning Soda Can Experiment (Newton's Laws of Motion) - Kids Fun Science: 
{{youtube>g9MGPzbGzvY?}}\\

📄 The Spinning Can - cmste.uregina.ca: [[https://www.cmste.uregina.ca/Quickstarts/spinningcan.html]]\\

====Variations====
  * Try different numbers of holes (2, 3, 4, or more) to see how it affects spinning speed.  
  * Vary hole sizes to compare how water flow rate changes the can’s motion.  
  * Test different can sizes (small soda can vs. large soup can).  
  * Add a fishing swivel to the string above the can for smoother rotation.



====Safety Precautions====
  * Use caution when punching holes to avoid slipping and cutting yourself.  
  * Keep the workspace dry to prevent slipping hazards from spilled water.  
  * Supervise younger students when handling sharp tools.



====Questions to Consider====
  * Which of Newton’s laws explains why the can starts to spin? (Newton’s Third Law: the water pushes one way, the can reacts by spinning the opposite way.)  
  * How does the number of holes affect the spinning speed? (More holes increase force, but also drain water faster, affecting rotation time.)  
  * Why must the holes be slanted instead of straight? (The angled jets produce sideways thrust to create torque; straight jets would just flow downward.)  
  * How does this experiment relate to real-world applications? (It demonstrates principles similar to jet propulsion, rockets, and turbines.)