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hands-on activities
How can I get a quarter through a dime-sized hole?
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Field(s) of Science: Engineering & Technology
Approximate time needed:
< 10 minutes
Concepts:
problem-solving
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Age:
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Setting(s)
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Adult supervision is required.
Materials Needed:
- Piece of paper
- Dime and quarter
- Pen
- Scissors
Doing The Activity!
- Draw an outline of the dime on the middle of a piece of paper.
- Cut out the circle you have just drawn.
- Fold the paper in half, through the middle of the hole that you cut out.
Investigate More!
- Try to get the quarter through the hole without making any cuts in the paper.
Discuss
What's Happening?
The quarter can be made to pass through the hole by cradling the
quarter in the hole, such that it rests in between the two folds of the
paper. Then rotate the paper upward as you hold it on either side of
the hole. If you play with it just a little, the quarter will slip
through the hole.
When the paper is folded and flat, the opening
is circular, and the size of the dime. The quarter cannot pass through
the hole. When you rotate the two sides of the paper up, the hole
becomes elliptical and this actually increases the size of the opening,
enough for the quarter to slip right through.
Why Does It Matter?
Gallery
Downloads
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