Rice Friction Lift

The bottle can lift with the pencil. Ask students to predict what will happen. Pack rice firmly, push in the pencil, then lift by the pencil. Key idea: Many grains press against the pencil and each other, producing enough friction. Ask: How can loose rice hold the pencil so tightly? Safety and cleanup: Plastic bottle only; teacher handles pointed object. https://www.google.com/search?q=%22Rice%20Friction%20Lift%22%20science%20demonstration%20experiment