Twist in Time – One of the Coolest Science Demos I've Ever Seen
It’s a demonstration that almost has to be seen in person to believe. Otherwise, you’re likely to say, “It’s fake… there’s no way that could happen!” As you’re watching the video below, please remember that there is absolutely no trick photography. When disbelievers see the demonstration performed live, the reaction is nothing short of astonishing. Based on our past experience, we know that color mixing is not a reversible process. Mix red and blue and you make purple. Separating the colors back into their original form is not only tricky but incomprehensible for many of us. Watch the video… you’ll see why we call it a “Twist in Time.”
I believe what’s happening here is very low Reynold’s number laminar flow, which means that there are many parallel layers of “sticky” (or viscous) fluid. As the handle is turned, the dyes remain within their original layers and do not mix with each other, even as they are spread out over their individual layers. As the crank is turned backwards, the process is inverted, and since there is no fluid turbulence in laminar flow, the process can be inverted almost perfectly. You’ll find more discussion about this on our Twist in Time – Laminar Flow page in the science experiment library.
Thats pretty amazing, i love watching cool science projects and thats a new one i haven’t seen before.
That is an awesome effect with those dots! Why didn’t they do any of those experiments in my science class?! All I got was hydrogen going ‘bang’
I think your experiment is awesome!
I am looking for ways to keep 3rd grade students on task during science class.
Any ideas?
Thanks.
This is one great looking experiment! I’d love to try to recreate it at home, but that crank seems like it would be a difficult thing to replicate.
I would love to do this! Can you tell us where you got the pieces for the container or sell them on your website! Very cool!
That was so cool. I need a science project to do for the science fair and i was wondering where do you buy the contanier thing that he was using. Well if anyone knows can you post it please i really need it!! THANKS SO MUCH!! BUH BYE!! 🙂
I enjoyed the demo. Would you provide some dimensions on the two cylinders? I guess it works better if the gap is small relative to the cylinder diameter, true?
When the color is injected, is each dot at the same distance from the axis of the cylinders?
Nice demonstration.
Thanks for the nice words. I agree… it’s a beautiful demo. There’s no science to the size of the tubes. Just make sure the gap between the two cylinders is about an inch or so. Again, it’s really a matter of trial and error. Just squeeze in the dye to make the dots and give it a try.
Let me know if it works for you. Love to see pictures or your video.
can you tell me how to do this simple and what supplies you need
You can read more about this experiment by following this link to the Steve Spangler Science website: https://www.stevespanglerscience.com/experiment/twist-in-time-laminar-flow
Sir….. I would like to know whether it is possible to make the container …. if yes… what are the materials required?…. I was planning to do this experiment for the school science fair…