A straw pushed slowly into the potato collapses. The plastic isn t strong enough to support the force exerted at opposite ends of the straw. However, when the straw is thrust rapidly into the potato, the straw easily penetrates and passes through. The straw enters the potato before it has a chance to collapse. As it enters, the surrounding potato helps support the straw by shoring up its sides.
Procedure Hold a raw potato in one hand.
While grasping the straw with the other hand, stab the potato with a slow motion. Observe how deeply the straw penetrates the potato. Repeat the experiment but this time stab the potato with a fast motion. Observe how deeply the straw penetrates the potato. Compare your observations with the result of step 1.