Experimental glass blowing for boys

by Carleton John Lynde

FIG. 59
TRICK SQUIRT BOTTLE

Now fill the bottle with water, and blow hard (Fig. 59). Do you find that one stream of water is driven into your face and another out of the nozzle?

Experiment 43. Fun with a trick squirt bottle.

FIG. 60
TRICK BOTTLE IN ACTION

Now to have fun with your trick bottle, show it to one friend at a time. Do not ask him to try the bottle, just go where he can see you and squirt a long stream, but unknown to him have your finger over the hole below the bend.

FIG. 61
A SIMPLE ENGINEER’S LEVEL
(From Aldous’ Physics. Courtesy of The Macmillan Company)

Your friend will just naturally want to have a try at it. So you say “All right, let’s see who can squirt the longest stream.” Tell him that all he has to do is to take a deep breath and blow as hard as he can. He will do so, with laughable results (Fig. 60).

Now together find another friend. Do not ask him to blow, but each of you blow as long a stream as you can, where he can see you. He will beg to be allowed to try, and finally you let him, with the same laughable results.