Pass out a half dozen potatoes and a box of soda straws. Show them a sample with a straw stuck through a potato and ask them to do the same without doing anything to the potato first. Just poke it through.

The “trick”, is to hold a finger over the end of the straw as you *STAB* the straw in a straight line, with a full arm swing, into the target. The physics is simply the compressed gas (air) inside the straw causes the wall to become as ridged as steel pipe, with a razor thin edge. It’s very easy with today’s plastic straws and can even be done with the old wrapped paper ones.

The lesson is “What appears improbable is easy when you know how”.



If a couple pictures would help, I can take them when I get a few minutes.





NOTE:
(Poke straight!!! They’ll go through your hand too. )

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