How to Make a Huge Hourglass
Since ancient times, sand hourglasses have provided a simple way of measuring the passage of time. Although the name "hourglass" implies that it takes one hour for the sand to pass from one side to the other, modern hourglasses such as egg timers often measure a much shorter period. You can build your own huge hourglass, perfect for classroom demonstrations, from a few basic supplies you probably have at your house already.
Things You'll Need
- Two 3-liter plastic bottles with caps
- Fine-grained sand (e.g., aquarium sand)
- Funnel
- Drill and drill bits
- Duct tape
- Stopwatch
Instructions
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1
Rinse both plastic bottles thoroughly and allow them to air dry completely.
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2
Place the funnel into the mouth of one plastic bottle. Fill the bottle approximately one-third full with sand.
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3
Use a small strip of duct tape to secure the two bottle caps together, top to top. Drill a small hole through both bottle caps at the same time. Remove the strip of tape holding the caps together.
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4
Screw each of the bottle caps onto a plastic bottle. Turn the empty bottle upside down and place it on top of the partially sand-filled bottle so that the two bottles are positioned cap to cap. Tape the caps and necks of the two bottles together securely.
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5
Flip the hourglass upside down and measure the amount of time it takes for the sand to flow from one bottle to the other. Experiment with adding more sand and/or drilling slightly larger holes in the bottle caps so that the passage of the sand takes approximately one hour.
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Tips & Warnings
Use shiny silver aluminum foil tape to achieve a more professional look.
Mark the outside of the bottle to indicate the level of the sand at the half-hour mark.
The hourglass may be top heavy at first. Make sure it is stable before letting go, or lean the hourglass against a wall or other vertical surface.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
