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Super Magic Tube

In this activity, students use geometrical shapes to make a magic tube that can produce ribbons.

It’s not just a saying that it’s all “smoke and mirrors”!

Magicians use a lot of math to make their illusions work. If an illusion isn’t built properly, or if the audience is at an unwanted angle, the “magic” won’t work.

This trick relies on the use of math. See how the combination of two familiar geometrical objects (cylinders and cones) can come together to create something "mathemagical".

Objectives

  • Explain the importance of observation when doing science.

Materials

  • Per Student:
    paper
    scissors
    tape
    ribbon
    felts/stickers for decorating

What To Do

Preparation:
Make and demonstrate this Super Magic Tube before letting your students make it for themselves.

Instructions:

  1. Roll and tape one piece of paper into a cylinder. This is your “magic tube”.
  2. Roll and tape the second piece of paper into a cone that will fit inside of the cylinder, with the open end flush with the end of the cylinder.
  3. Put the cone inside the tube, and tape the open ends together. There is now a hidden compartment in the back of the cylinder.
  4. Tape long pieces of ribbon into the hidden compartment.
  5. Have your audience look through the large side of the cone. It looks like a simple tube!
  6. With a magical (or scientific!) word and a shake, produce ribbon out of the other end!

About the sticker

Survivors

Artist: Jeff Kulak

Jeff is a senior graphic designer at Science World. His illustration work has been published in the Walrus, The National Post, Reader’s Digest and Chickadee Magazine. He loves to make music, ride bikes, and spend time in the forest.

About the sticker

Egg BB

Artist: Jeff Kulak

Jeff is a senior graphic designer at Science World. His illustration work has been published in the Walrus, The National Post, Reader’s Digest and Chickadee Magazine. He loves to make music, ride bikes, and spend time in the forest.

About the sticker

Comet Crisp

Artist: Jeff Kulak

Jeff is a senior graphic designer at Science World. His illustration work has been published in the Walrus, The National Post, Reader’s Digest and Chickadee Magazine. He loves to make music, ride bikes, and spend time in the forest.

About the sticker

T-Rex and Baby

Artist: Michelle Yong

Michelle is a designer with a focus on creating joyful digital experiences! She enjoys exploring the potential forms that an idea can express itself in and helping then take shape.

About the sticker

Buddy the T-Rex

Artist: Michelle Yong

Michelle is a designer with a focus on creating joyful digital experiences! She enjoys exploring the potential forms that an idea can express itself in and helping then take shape.

About the sticker

Geodessy

Artist: Michelle Yong

Michelle is a designer with a focus on creating joyful digital experiences! She enjoys exploring the potential forms that an idea can express itself in and helping then take shape.

About the sticker

Science Buddies

Artist: Ty Dale

From Canada, Ty was born in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1993. From his chaotic workspace he draws in several different illustrative styles with thick outlines, bold colours and quirky-child like drawings. Ty distils the world around him into its basic geometry, prompting us to look at the mundane in a different way.

About the sticker

Western Dinosaur

Artist: Ty Dale

From Canada, Ty was born in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1993. From his chaotic workspace he draws in several different illustrative styles with thick outlines, bold colours and quirky-child like drawings. Ty distils the world around him into its basic geometry, prompting us to look at the mundane in a different way.

About the sticker

Time-Travel T-Rex

Artist: Ty Dale

From Canada, Ty was born in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1993. From his chaotic workspace he draws in several different illustrative styles with thick outlines, bold colours and quirky-child like drawings. Ty distils the world around him into its basic geometry, prompting us to look at the mundane in a different way.