Bucket of Water

PIRA: 1D50.40

Overview:

When an object is spinning, the centripetal force can become stronger than gravity. To show this we take a bucket that is filled with water and spin it around fast enough to prevent the water from spilling when it is upside down.

Materials:

5 gallon bucket, water, rope (optional)

Setup:

Pour water into the bucket until it is around ¼ full. This is to the discretion of the person performing the demo as more water will make it more difficult to spin. If rope is used, tie it to the top of the handle.

How to:

Grab the bucket by the handle or the rope. Swing it side to side until you’ve built up enough momentum to spin the bucket in a circle with it being upside down at the top.

Safety:

Do not strain your body with too much water in the bucket. Make sure there is no one in the way of the bucket in case it slips from your hand.