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Name: Bob
Status: student
Grade: 9-12
Location: PA
Country: N/A
Date: 6/22/2005
Question:
Why does water not leak out of a closed plastic bottle (cap tightly secured on top) with a hole poked in it?

Replies:
Bob,

When the water leaves the bottle, it must be replaced by air. If the bottle is closed, there is no way for the air to get in. After the first few drops have escaped, you have a small vacuum in the top of the bottle. If the bottle were very thin and flexible, the bottle would collapse to let the water out.

Dr. Ken Mellendorf
Physics Instructor
Illinois Central College


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