Centripetal Coin Swirl Gravity Funnel

20 mins Ages 4-6 Indoor

A playful, screen-free adventure designed to spark curiosity, sensory exploration, and fine motor skills for kids aged 4 to 6.

Materials Needed

  • • Large wide plastic kitchen funnel (approx. 15–20 cm rim) (1 unit)
  • • Smooth metal coins (pennies, quarters) or steel ball bearings (3–4 units)
  • • Plastic cup (as base support stand) (1 unit)

Pro Tips

  • → Roll a coin tangentially along the top rim of a wide funnel at high speed.
  • → Centripetal acceleration pushes the rolling coin outward against the curved walls, keeping it upright in orbit.
  • → As friction slows the coin down, its orbit spirals tighter and faster toward the center drain, mimicking planetary orbits.

Safety First

Keep small coins and ball bearings away from children under 3.

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Step-by-Step Instructions

1

Step 1

Set a large, clean plastic kitchen funnel upright on a table with its spout resting in a cup.

2

Step 2

Hold a coin vertically along the inside upper rim of the funnel.

3

Step 3

Flick the coin sideways to set it rolling in horizontal circular orbits along the curved walls.

4

Step 4

Watch the coin speed up as it spirals downward, dropping through the spout with a click.

What they are learning

Centripetal orbital acceleration Frictional decay and gravitational pull Planetary orbit simulation