Prayer Vase - Genie in the Bottle

Every science magician should be able to defy gravity.

The science magician displays a bottle and a short length of rope. She explains that according to the ancient legends, a genie lives in the bottle. While you can’t see the genie, if you tickle him with something like a rope, it makes him mad and he hangs onto the rope. The rope is inserted into the bottle and jiggled a bit. When the bottle with the rope still inside it is turned upside down, the rope is seen to dangle unsupported from the bottle. The magician explains that the genie is even strong enough to make the bottle float. Now, the bottle and rope are turned right side up. While holding only the end of the rope, the magician lets go of the bottle and it is seen to float at the end of the rope. On command, the genie releases the rope, it is easily removed from the bottle and handed out for examination. The bottle may be examined, as well. Nothing unusual will be found. But how?

Materials

Small bottle with a long neck like an old fashioned soda bottle
A short length of cotton rope (about 1 foot long)
A small piece of aluminum foil (about 6 inches square)

Experiment
Video
Reviews

Depending on the type of bottle you use, you might need to either paint the bottle to make it opaque or cover the bottle with something so the audience cannot see what's happening inside the bottle.

You'll also need to make the secret genie... a small ball of aluminum foil! Crumble the foil into a ball that will just barely fit through the mouth of the bottle. Don’t squeeze it too small, but make sure that it doesn’t get stuck when you put it into the bottle and pour it out again. This small metal ball is what does the magic. It’s the genie! When you’re satisfied that it’s just the right size, place it into the opaque bottle and leave it there - no one will suspect anything.

Remove the rope from the bottle and display both. Be careful not to shake the bottle or the genie (aluminum foil ball) will rattle. Remember that you don’t want anyone to know that the genie is in the bottle.
Tell your audience about the legend of the genie, as described in the effect (above).
Place one end of the rope into the bottle. Push it all the way down until it just touches the bottom.
This is important! With your left hand holding the bottle, and your right hand holding the rope in place, turn the bottle and rope upside down. The genie will fall toward the neck of the bottle, and by gently tugging on the rope, the genie will become stuck between the rope and the neck of the bottle.
When you feel this happen, you can let go of the rope with your right hand. “Voila! The genie is hanging onto the rope making it appear that it is floating in space,” says the magician.
Grasp the rope, once again, with your right hand, and while applying just a tiny bit of tension, turn the bottle and rope right side up.
You should still be able to feel the genie hanging on to the rope.
Explain that the genie is strong enough to make the bottle float, as well. Let go of the bottle with your left hand and show it floating at the end of the rope.

Your next challenge is to “steal” the genie out of the bottle so that when the spectators examine it, they won’t discover your secret. The simple method is to just turn the bottle upside down and make a comment about some marking on the bottom of the bottle (just misdirection for the aluminum ball to fall out in your hand). The empty bottle is now in your right hand. Give it to a spectator to examine. While your audience’s attention is being directed to the rope and bottle (now in the hands of spectators), casually put your left hand into your pocket and leave the genie there. As magicians say, “You’re clean!” That means that there’s nothing unusual for your audience to find.

Place one end of the rope into the bottle, and set the bottle on your performing table. The rope being in the bottle will help prevent anyone from peeking into the bottle and seeing the genie.

You’re ready to make the rope and bottle seemingly defy gravity.

This small metal ball is what does the magic. It’s the genie! When you’re satisfied that it’s just the right size, place it into the cloth-covered bottle and leave it there. With the cloth covering the bottle, nobody will know about the secret genie in the bottle.

Place one end of the rope into the bottle, and set the bottle on your performing table. The rope being in the bottle will help prevent anyone from peeking into the bottle and seeing the genie.

You’re ready to make the rope and bottle seemingly defy gravity.

How does it work?

Friction makes this effect work. Friction is the rubbing of one object or surface against another. The rough surface of the crumpled aluminum ball (the genie) provides adequate friction between the rope and the bottle to keep the rope from slipping out.

Misdirection is also a component of this trick. You intentionally misdirect the audience’s attention to the rope and bottle when you hand them out for examination. During those few seconds that the audience is looking at the props, you can secretly sneak the genie into your pocket without detection.