Sideways Pressure of Water

Equipment Needed

1 long, round cardboard tube (the kind used for shipping posters)
1 sharp-pointed objected, such as a bradawl
Playdoh or similar modeling clay
A jug or other large container of water
A sink or large bowl

The Experiment

Take a long, round cardboard tube and bore four small holes at equal distances apart along the side of the tube, as shown in Fig. 1.

Seal one end of the tube with Playdoh. Make sure it is watertight (Fig. 2).

Fill the tube up with water, holding it vertically over a sink or large bowl.

Water will immediately begin to spurt out of all the holes (Fig. 3).

The water from the hole at the bottom will spurt the furthest. This is because it bears the most pressure from the column of water.