Bottle flipping facts for kids

Flipping a water bottle

Bottle flipping is a fun activity where you throw a plastic bottle, usually with some water inside, into the air. The goal is to make it spin and land perfectly upright on its bottom or even its cap! This became a huge worldwide trend in late 2016. Many videos of people trying this trick were shared online. While it was popular, the constant thudding sound from many tries bothered some people. Parents and teachers often found it annoying. Because of this, bottle flipping was banned in many schools around the world. Some people also suggested that it should only be done in private places.

How to Flip a Water Bottle

Want to try bottle flipping? Here's how it usually works:

• Grab a plastic water bottle that is partly empty.
• Hold the bottle by its neck.
• Use a quick flick of your wrist to throw the bottle. Make sure the bottom of the bottle rotates away from you.
• If you do it right, the bottle will land upright!

Sometimes, the bottle might even land upside-down, or on its cap. Landing it on its cap is much harder than landing it upright.

What Makes a Good Flip?

Several things can help you flip a bottle successfully:

• Amount of Water: The amount of liquid inside the bottle really matters. Studies show that filling the bottle about one-third (or 20% to 40%) of the way full gives you the best chance of success.
• Bottle Shape: The type of plastic bottle also plays a role. Some people find that bottles with a unique shape, like the Deer Park Spring Water brand, are easier to flip. This is because of their special hourglass shape.

The Science of Bottle Flipping

Bottle flipping might seem simple, but it involves some cool science! It uses ideas from physics like:

• Fluid dynamics: How liquids move.
• Projectile motion: How objects move through the air.
• Angular momentum: The spinning motion of the bottle.
• Gravity: The force that pulls the bottle down.

In 2018, some students and professors in the Netherlands studied bottle flipping. They found that how the water moves inside the bottle, and how the bottle's weight shifts, are very important for a successful flip.

Bottle Flipping Online

Bottle flipping became very popular online. Many people shared videos of their best flips. Sometimes, after a successful flip, people would do a popular dance move called the Dab.

The trend even led to mobile games! One app called "Bottle Flip 2k16" was downloaded over 3 million times in just its first month.