Glitter Balls
by adminGlitter balls are such simple things, even a baby can play with them (and they do!). But at the same time they can actually teach a lot about science!
The idea of a glitter ball is a clear, rubber ball that is filled with liquid. In that liquid is a colorful glitter. Shake, spin or just bounce the ball and the liquid swirls around, carrying the glitter along with it! Very soon you are looking at a fascinating, swirling pattern of flowing glitter that can hypnotize adults and children alike.
But that’s just a random bounce! You can also do other tricks with the glitter ball. Take a larger model (the 4″ one does nicely) and flip & spin it quickly between your hands so that it spins always in one direction, then quickly stop it and flip/spin it in the opposite direction. Closely examine the flowing glitter and you will see little spin points or eddys where the glitter is whirling in a circle. If this pattern looks a bit familiar it is because the shape resembles a hurricane here on Earth.
Try doing the flip spin trick again, but this time don’t reverse the direction. Instead look at the difference in movement between the area where the ball was spinning the most to where it is spinning the least. The difference in the speed between the two is a an interesting lesson in angular momentum.
Another bit of fun is to let the glitter settle, then bounce (just let it fall, don’t throw it at the ground) so that the end with the glitter hits the ground. Then watch the smoke-like pattern the glitter makes from the impact. Its interesting that there is sometimes a delay.
Like most other reflective items, the glitter shines brighter in sunlight than anywhere else. Try these tricks and others with the glitter ball in bright sunlight.
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how do you make your glitter ball shine again?
Yours lost its shine? Odd. Did you leave it in the sun for a long period of time?