Gravity free water

Using the effects of air pressure to defy gravity

Gravity is defied in this super simple gravity-free water experiment. Children use the effects of air pressure to make it look as though there is zero gravity in an upside-down glass of water.

Get your children to fill a glass with water, place a piece of card over it and turn it upside down.

Discuss how gravity works, why gravity is important, and how the water stays in the glass. Gravity discovery is exciting and using a hands-on experiment with minimal equipment will make a gravity discovery lesson the highlight of their day.

Tools/resources required

Drinking glass
Access to a sink and/or water
Small pieces of thick card (preferably coated/shiny) to cover the glass

This activity could be used as a starter or main activity to introduce the effects of gravity and air pressure, or as one of several activities within a wider scheme of learning focusing on different types of forces.

Use the content for gravity discovery and to think about why gravity is important, how gravity works and most importantly spark a life-long science interest with your class and children.

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