Praxis: Science masquerading as magic and illusion

By Medicine Hat News on December 16, 2017.

I had the privilege of watching a show recently that featured “illusions.” The show was quite amazing and much of the audience were in awe of the illusions that were performed. Of course after the show, I was asked “how did he do that?” about many of the features shown. Well, I cannot explain everything, but I do know that a great deal of what we see as “magic” can be explained by science! I often hear “magic is science” and “science is magic.” Let’s get you some of those “ooohhsss” and “awwssss” of your own this week! Let’s get started.

*Remember to ask an adult before doing this experiment.

Materials

– potato (several so you can practice!)

– straight straw (not the bendy kind)

Procedure

1. The challenge is to stick the straw through the potato without bending or breaking it. Can this be done?

2. Hold the potato in one hand. Make sure you keep your fingers on the front and your thumb on the back, otherwise you may stab yourself! You do not want this to happen.

3. Hold the straw with the hand you usually use to write with.

4. Put your thumb over the top of the straw.

5. Firmly hold on to the potato and in one quick stabbing motion, stick the straw through the potato (you may want to practice this a few times without an audience so you can perfect it). Another secret is to stab the straw into the narrow end of the potato, not the thickest part.

6. The audience should be impressed as the straw should go into the potato, let go and it will stick straight out!

7. Ask the audience how this happened. Try to get them to think about the science behind the magic.

What is going on?

In this experiment, the secret is inside the straw. When you place our thumb over the end of the straw, you are trapping air inside. This trapped air is really strong. The air molecules become compressed adding to the strength of the straw. It is so strong that it will cut through the skin and go right into the potato.

Try pushing a straw into the potato without your thumb covering it. It is bendy and flexible and will not pierce the flesh of the potato. All of the air simply gets pushed out of the straw and it bends up before you can even get it into the potato.

Try experimenting with other fruits and vegetable!

Patty Rooks is senior scientific consultant at PRAXIS, “Connecting Science To The Community.” Contact Praxis at praxis@praxismh.ca, http://www.praxismh.ca, Tweet or follow us @PraxisMedHat, or friend us on Facebook.

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