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How to Make a Wiffle Ball Float on Air

As a result of Bernoulli's Principle, which states that gases and liquids moving at high speed operate at a lower pressure than those moving slowly, a small, light object such as a Wiffle ball or pingpong ball can be made to hover over a controlled airstream. The high-pressure air around the stream holds the ball in place, keeping it inside the lower-pressure area. Because the stream of air is continually directed upward toward the ball, it has nowhere to go and floats in place.

Instructions

- 1
  Turn the hair dryer to its highest setting. Hold it steady, pointing straight up.
- 2
  Hold the Wiffle ball directly over the air stream and let go. If it falls, try starting a little lower. If it flies upward and out of the airstream, release the ball farther from the dryer. The ball should remain in the airstream, bouncing gently up and down a few inches above the dryer's mouth.
- 3
  Invert a funnel over the mouth of the dryer to make a more restricted airstream. This will cause the Wiffle ball to hover even higher, though the smaller stream will also be more unstable. If you're doing this as an educational experiment with a child, explain to her how it works based on Bernoulli's Principle.

Educational Toys