This activity uses a little bit of science to perform a magic trick.

You will need:

2 empty 2-L plastic bottles, 1 small nail, 2 balloons.

Now try this:

1. Using the nail place a small hole in the bottom of an empty 2-L plastic pop bottle.  Place this bottle on a table with another empty 2-L plastic pop bottle (not containing a hole)

2. Place 1 balloon each inside each of the bottles.  Make sure the balloons don't fall all the way down inside the bottles.  Wrap the opening of each balloon over top the bottle's opening.

3. Try to inflate the balloon inside the bottle without hole.  Any success?

4. Try to inflate the balloon inside the bottle with the hole.  Any success?

What is happening?

Even though the bottles appear to be "empty" there is actually material inside the bottles.  This material is called air.  This is a great activity to show the evidence of this air.  You cannot inflate the balloon in the bottle without the hole because the air is taking up all of the space.  The bottle with the hole allows the air to escape allowing for the balloon to fill up the space inside the bottle.