Water bottle flipping physics

P. J. Dekker; L. A.G. Eek; M. M. Flapper; H. J.C. Horstink; A. R. Meulenkamp; J. Van Der Meulen; E. S. Kooij; J. H. Snoeijer; A. Marin

doi:10.1119/1.5052441

Water bottle flipping physics

P. J. Dekker, L. A.G. Eek, M. M. Flapper, H. J.C. Horstink, A. R. Meulenkamp, J. Van Der Meulen, E. S. Kooij, J. H. Snoeijer, A. Marin

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Abstract

The water bottle flipping challenge consists of spinning a bottle, partially filled with water, and making it land upright. It is quite a striking phenomenon, since at first sight, it appears rather improbable that a tall rotating bottle could make such a stable landing. Here, we analyze the physics behind the water bottle flip, based on experiments and an analytical model that can be used in the classroom. Our measurements show that the angular velocity of the bottle decreases dramatically, enabling a nearly vertical descent and a successful landing. The reduced rotation is due to an increase in the moment of inertia, caused by the in-flight redistribution of the water mass along the bottle. Experimental and analytical results are compared quantitatively, and we demonstrate how to optimize the chances for a successful landing.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	733-739
Number of pages	7
Journal	American journal of physics
Volume	86
Issue number	10
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1119/1.5052441
Publication status	Published - 1 Oct 2018

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abstract = "The water bottle flipping challenge consists of spinning a bottle, partially filled with water, and making it land upright. It is quite a striking phenomenon, since at first sight, it appears rather improbable that a tall rotating bottle could make such a stable landing. Here, we analyze the physics behind the water bottle flip, based on experiments and an analytical model that can be used in the classroom. Our measurements show that the angular velocity of the bottle decreases dramatically, enabling a nearly vertical descent and a successful landing. The reduced rotation is due to an increase in the moment of inertia, caused by the in-flight redistribution of the water mass along the bottle. Experimental and analytical results are compared quantitatively, and we demonstrate how to optimize the chances for a successful landing.",

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AU - Dekker, P. J.

AU - Eek, L. A.G.

AU - Flapper, M. M.

AU - Horstink, H. J.C.

AU - Meulenkamp, A. R.

AU - Van Der Meulen, J.

AU - Kooij, E. S.

AU - Snoeijer, J. H.

AU - Marin, A.

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AB - The water bottle flipping challenge consists of spinning a bottle, partially filled with water, and making it land upright. It is quite a striking phenomenon, since at first sight, it appears rather improbable that a tall rotating bottle could make such a stable landing. Here, we analyze the physics behind the water bottle flip, based on experiments and an analytical model that can be used in the classroom. Our measurements show that the angular velocity of the bottle decreases dramatically, enabling a nearly vertical descent and a successful landing. The reduced rotation is due to an increase in the moment of inertia, caused by the in-flight redistribution of the water mass along the bottle. Experimental and analytical results are compared quantitatively, and we demonstrate how to optimize the chances for a successful landing.

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Water bottle flipping physics

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