Spirited Essence Works

Potato Inertia Experiment

With a Potato, Knife, and mallet, stick the knife about an inch into the potato. Using the mallet, tap the handle of the knife with the potato hanging at the bottom of the knife. See what happens?

This is a clear example of Newton’s First Law of Motion. Inertia is a property of matter by which it continues in its existing state of rest or uniform motion in a straight line, unless that state is changed by an external force. When the potato is set in motion it has a tendency to stay in motion. Then, when the knife suddenly stops, the potato keeps moving. Inertia is a tendency for an object to keep on doing whatever its doing. When a mass is at rest, it resists anything trying to change its position (that is positively or negatively accelerate it). When a mass is set in motion it has a tendency to keep moving and resist anything that will change its motion.

Star Toothpick Experiment

All you need is toothpicks, a plate, a dropper, and water. Break toothpicks in half and lay bend toothpicks in a circle. Add drops of water and watch the magic. Due to cohesion (the ability of water molecules to be attracted to other water molecules) and the capillary action (the movement of water within the spaces of a porous material due to the forces of adhesion, cohesion, and surface tension) the toothpicks expand and form a star.

As the wood absorbs the water, each individual toothpick tries to straighten itself as the soaked fibers expand. This straightening action causes the toothpick ends to push against each other. As the toothpicks straighten and push against each other, the inside of the star opens up into the final star shape.

Check out the how to video below: