Daily STREAM Activity: Friction & Rice Experiment

It's not magic, it's friction!

Activity best for children age 2 and up

Can you pick up a bottle of rice using only a pencil? Thanks to friction, you sure can! Friction happens when two objects rub against one another and stick slightly together. In today’s experiment, the friction between the grains of rice will help you pick up the bottle with just a pencil. Let’s try it out!

Materials you’ll need:

Rice

Plastic Bottle

Pencil/ any long tool

Funnel (optional)

Directions

STEP 1
Fill the bottle with rice. If needed, use a funnel.

Image 8 25 20 At 8.54 AM

STEP 2
Stick your pencil or any other long tool into the bottle. Then try to pick the bottle up. Does it work?

Image 8 25 20 At 8.54 AM (1)

STEP 3
Tap the bottom of the bottle on a hard surface a few times so the rice compacts to the bottom. Add some more rice into the bottle.

STEP 4
Stick your pencil or long tool into the bottle and try to pick the bottle up. Why does it work now?

Image 8 25 20 At 8.54 AM (2)
Image 7 23 20 At 2.26 PM (4)

Blog post by Raina, San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum Volunteer