Steve Spangler Science: Floating Bottle Trick

Science and magic combine to produce the illusion of a real genie in a bottle… but the real secret is friction.

The science magician displays a bottle and a short length of rope. They explain that ancient legends foretold of a genie in the bottle. While you can’t see the genie, if you tickle him with something like a rope, it makes him mad and he hangs onto the offending item. The rope is inserted into the bottle and jiggled a bit. When the bottle with the rope still inside it is turned upside down, the rope is seen dangling, unsupported from the bottle. The magician explains that the genie is even strong enough to make the bottle float. The audience is amazed by the illusion, not knowing that the secret is a tiny ball hidden inside!


Science Topics
Force (Frictional)
K-6
Kindergarten, 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, 6th Grade

What are you looking for?

Organization

Steve Spangler Science

Website URL

Type of Resource

Tutorial
Video (Instructional)

Assigned Categories