Upside Down Water Glass
Materials: ★☆☆ Easy to get from supermarket or hardware store
Difficulty: ★☆☆ Can be easily done by most teenagers
Safety: ★☆☆ Minimal safety procedures required
Categories: Fluids and Surface Tension, Pressure and Fluids
Alternative titles: Air Pressure Water Trick, Defying Gravity
Summary
By filling a glass completely with water, covering it with a piece of stiff paper, and inverting it, the paper stays in place and holds the water inside the glass.
Procedure
- Fill a drinking glass completely to the brim with water. (If the glass is not full, the experiment won’t work.)
- Place a stiff sheet of paper (such as poster board) over the mouth of the glass.
- Move the glass over a sink or large container to prevent spills.
- Hold the paper firmly against the glass with one hand and quickly invert the glass.
- Remove your hand from the paper. Observe how the paper stays in place, preventing the water from falling.
Links
Upside Down Water Glass Science Experiment - Cool Science Experiments Headquarters:
upside down water glass physics - Homemade Science with Bruce Yeany:
📄 Upside Down Glass of Water Science Experiment - Cool Science Experiments Headquarters: https://coolscienceexperimentshq.com/upside-down-glass-of-water-experiment/
Variations
- Try using different types of paper (thin paper, cardboard, or plastic sheets) and compare results.
- Test with different glass sizes and amounts of water.
- See how long the paper can hold before becoming saturated and falling.
- Add food coloring to the water for visual effect.
Safety Precautions
- Perform over a sink or container to catch spills.
- Use sturdy paper to avoid sudden collapse.
- Handle the glass carefully to avoid dropping and breaking.
Questions to Consider
- Why doesn’t the water fall out of the glass when upside down?
- What role does air pressure play in holding the paper in place?
- How heavy is the air pressing upward compared to the weight of the water?
- Why does the paper eventually fall after a while?
- Can you think of real-world examples where air pressure prevents liquids or gases from escaping?