Magnus Effect Curving Ball

1. Magnus Effect Curving Ball Materials: Light foam ball; air stream or safe drop setup What you do: Give the ball spin as it moves through air. What students see: The path curves toward one side. Question: How can spin bend the path? 2. Wax Paper Drop Race Materials: Wax paper; plain paper or plastic; droppers What you do: Place equal drops on different surfaces and gently tilt. What students see: Drops bead and move differently on each surface. Question: Why does water spread on one surface but bead on another? 3. Water Rolls Off a Waxy Leaf Materials: Waxy leaf such as cabbage; dropper; water What you do: Place drops on waxy and non-waxy leaves. What students see: Drops bead and roll differently. Question: How might a waxy surface help a plant?

Predict → observe three demonstrations → compare what changed → choose independent activity station → cleanup/share. Guiding questions: Question: How can spin bend the path? Question: Why does water spread on one surface but bead on another? Question: How might a waxy surface help a plant?