Love exploding experiments? YES!! Well here’s another one the kids are sure to love except this one is an imploding or collapsing experiment! All you need are a coke can and water. Learn about atmospheric pressure with this incredible can crusher experiment. We love easy science experiments for kids!
HOW TO CRUSH A CAN WITH AIR PRESSURE
CAN CRUSHING FUN!
This simple science experiment has been on our to-do list for a while now because we wanted to know if air pressure can really crush a can! This soda can experiment is a great way to get your kiddos excited about science! Who doesn’t love something that implodes?
Our science experiments have you, the parent or teacher, in mind! Easy to set up, quick to do, most activities will take only 15 to 30 minutes to complete and are heaps of fun! Plus, our supplies lists usually contain only free or cheap materials you can source from home.
Check out our chemistry experiments and physics experiments!
Grab an empty soda can, (Suggestion – use the soda for our pop rocks and soda experiment) and find out what happens when you put a hot can in cold water! Make sure to have an adult involved with heating the can!
SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS AT HOME
Science learning starts early, and you can be a part of that with setting up science at home with everyday materials. Or you can bring easy science experiments to a group of kids in the classroom!
We find a ton of value in cheap science activities and experiments. All our science experiments use inexpensive, everyday materials you can find at home or source from your local dollar store.
We even have a whole list of kitchen science experiments, using basic supplies you will have in your kitchen.
You can set up your science experiments as an activity focusing on exploration and discovery. Make sure to ask kids questions at each step, discuss what is happening and talk about the science behind it.
Alternatively, you can introduce the scientific method, get kids to record their observations and make conclusions. Read more about the scientific method for kids to help you get started.
Click here to get your free printable STEM activities pack!
CAN CRUSHER EXPERIMENT
Also check out how changes in pressure can suck an egg into a bottle.
SUPPLIES:
- Empty aluminum can
- Water
- Heat source Eg stove burner
- Tongs
- Bowl of ice water
INSTRUCTIONS:
STEP 1. Prepare a bowl with ice and water,
STEP 2: Put about two tablespoons of water in an empty aluminum can.
STEP 3: Set the can on a stove burner or over a flame until the the water in the can turns to steam.
THIS STEP SHOULD ONLY BE DONE BY AN ADULT!
STEP 4: Use an oven mitt or tongs to carefully remove the steaming can from the heat source and immediately turn the can upside down into a bowl of cold water.
Prepare for a loud POP as the can implodes!
WHY DOES A HOT CAN CRUSH IN COLD WATER?
Here’s how the collapsing can experiment works. As the water in the can gets hot, it changes to steam. The steam or water vapor is a gas and so it spreads out and fills the inside of the can. This a great example of states of matter phase change, and a physical change!
When you flip the can and put it in cold water, the steam condenses quickly or cools and changes to a liquid state. This reduces the number of gaseous molecules in the can, and so the air pressure inside becomes lower.
Air pressure is the the force exerted onto a surface by the weight of the air. The difference between the low air pressure inside and the pressure of the air outside creates an inward force on the walls of the can, causing it to implode!
What does implode mean? Implode refers to exploding violently inwards rather than outwards.
MORE FUN EXPLODING EXPERIMENTS
Why not try one of these science experiments below!
AIR PRESSURE CAN EXPERIMENT FOR KIDS
Click on the image below or on the link for more fun science experiments for kids.
Printable Science Projects For Kids
If you’re looking to grab all of our printable science projects in one convenient place plus exclusive worksheets and bonuses like a STEAM Project pack, our Science Project Pack is what you need! Over 300+ Pages!
- 90+ classic science activities with journal pages, supply lists, set up and process, and science information. NEW! Activity-specific observation pages!
- Best science practices posters and our original science method process folders for extra alternatives!
- Be a Collector activities pack introduces kids to the world of making collections through the eyes of a scientist. What will they collect first?
- Know the Words Science vocabulary pack includes flashcards, crosswords, and word searches that illuminate keywords in the experiments!
- My science journal writing prompts explore what it means to be a scientist!!
- Bonus STEAM Project Pack: Art meets science with doable projects!
- Bonus Quick Grab Packs for Biology, Earth Science, Chemistry, and Physics
