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A container of water has a hole in the side. Will water leak out of the hole faster when the container is stationary or when it is in free fall?

What to Do

1. Working with a partner outdoors, fill both milk cartons to the same level with water. Seal each of the holes with a finger until you are ready to start the experiment.

2. One of the cartons will be held still while water is allowed to pour out of the hole. The other carton will be allowed to fall to the ground after the seal is removed. Predict what will happen. Will water escape faster out of the stationery carton or out of the free-falling carton? What happens after the milk carton hits the ground does not count!

3. Test your prediction.

When the second carton of water is dropped, both the carton and the water it contains are in free fall; both accelerate downward at the same rate, due to the force of gravity.

You need:

1 large pitcher or pail of water.

2 milk cartons, the same size, with the

tops cut off. Drill or punch identical

holes in the sides of the cartons, as in the diagram.