Science Experiment for Lighting Paper in a Beer Bottle
Some might think it's magic, while others say it's science. No matter what you call it, sucking a hard-boiled egg into a beer bottle using nothing more than lit paper can seem awfully impressive. The trick is actually a result of differing atmospheric pressure; the egg serves as a barrier between the air pressure inside the bottle and the air pressure outside. When the difference in pressure reaches a certain point, the egg is sucked through the bottle.
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Materials
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This science experiment won't work with your average North America longneck bottle. Instead, you'll need a stubby or growler beer bottle. You'll also need a strip of notebook paper, a lighter and a hard-boiled egg. It also helps to have a bowl of water handy to lubricate the mouth of the bottle.
Preparation
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Keep the hard-boiled egg in the bowl of water until you're ready to begin the experiment. Start by setting the egg atop the bottle and showing your audience the egg clearly cannot fit by its own means. Replace the egg in the bowl, and take your finger and dip it into the water. Rub your finger along the mouth of the bottle to wet it down.
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Execution
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Light the strip of paper and drop it into the upright bottle. Then quickly but gently place the egg on top of the bottle, wide side up. The egg will make a sucking or popping sound as it enters the bottle due to the pressure difference.
Explanation
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The fire inside the bottle heats the air molecules, which are trapped in the bottle. As these particles expand and move around, they rise, attempting to escape the bottle. As the fire is extinguished and the air cools, the egg prevents new air from entering the bottle, creating low pressure inside the bottle. Objects naturally move from high pressure to low pressure to achieve equilibrium.
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