How to Make Toothpicks Move Into a Star Pattern
If you lay out snapped toothpicks into a pattern on wax paper and add water to them, something unusual happens. You can do this as an experiment for a science project at school, as a home school project or just for fun to find out what water does to wooden toothpicks.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Easy
Instructions
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1
Choose 5 flat-sided toothpicks. Break each of the toothpicks in half right at the center of the toothpick. Make sure that you leave the toothpicks intact after you snap them.
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2
Lay all 5 of these toothpicks down on a sheet of wax paper so that each of the snapped toothpicks make a "V" shape and are facing each other around in a circle.
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3
Predict what shape the toothpicks will form when you add water to the center. If doing this as a group project or with a friend, discuss what you think will happen.
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4
Add 1 or 2 drops of water to the toothpick pattern you have made directly in the center using an eyedropper or by dipping your finger in water and letting the water drip onto the toothpicks.
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5
Watch as the toothpicks turn to form a star pattern.
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6
Discuss why you think the toothpicks formed this pattern after adding the water.
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1
Tips & Warnings
The wooden toothpicks are made up of porous fibers that easily absorb water, much like a sponge. When the water was dropped onto the snapped toothpicks, it was absorbed into the fibers, which expanded and moved out into a straighter position, thus forming a star pattern.
If you break the toothpicks completely in half after you snap them, discard the toothpick and use another one. These toothpicks must be intact for the experiment to work.
