The Jumping Toothpick Trick
Make a jumping toothpick launcher using a straw, rubber band, and toothpicks; experiment with tension and aim while measuring jump distance safely.
Step-by-step guide to make a jumping toothpick launcher (The Jumping Toothpick Trick)
Step 1
Gather all the materials on a table so they are easy to reach.
Step 2
Find a clear flat floor area and move any breakable things away from the space.
Step 3
Use the small piece of tape to mark a straight starting line on the floor.
Step 4
Slide the rubber band onto the middle of the straw and leave it there.
Step 5
Slip one toothpick under the rubber band so about half the toothpick sticks out past the straw.
Step 6
Hold the straw firmly against the floor with one hand near the rubber band.
Step 7
Pull the exposed end of the toothpick backward along the straw to stretch the rubber band a little.
Step 8
Release the toothpick so the rubber band snaps it forward and launches it.
Step 9
Measure the distance from the starting line to where the toothpick landed using the ruler.
Step 10
Put a second rubber band beside the first on the straw to increase the launcher’s tension.
Step 11
Repeat Steps 6 through 9 three times with the two rubber bands and note each distance to compare the results.
Step 12
Try aiming the launcher slightly higher and then slightly lower and launch three times at each angle to see how aim changes the distance.
Step 13
Share your jumping toothpick launcher and the distances you recorded on DIY.org.
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
I don't have a plastic straw or toothpicks—what can I use instead?
Use a rolled-up piece of paper or the empty barrel of a ballpoint pen for the straw and a short wooden skewer or trimmed coffee stirrer for the toothpick, then Slide the rubber band onto the substitute and follow the same launch steps.
My toothpick won't launch far or the rubber band keeps slipping—what should I check?
Make sure you Slide the rubber band onto the middle of the straw, Hold the straw firmly against the floor near the rubber band while you Pull the exposed end back to stretch it, and if it still slips Put a second rubber band beside the first as in Step 10.
How can I adapt this activity for a 4-year-old or a 12-year-old?
For younger kids have an adult do the Pull and Release and let them help mark the starting line and read the ruler, while older kids can change rubber-band count, precisely Measure distances in Steps 6–9, vary aiming angles, and analyze results.
How can we extend or personalize the jumping toothpick launcher?
Try decorating the straw, testing different toothpick lengths or multiple toothpicks, building a multi‑straw launcher for more tension, compare distances with one versus two rubber bands and different aiming angles, then Share your recorded distances on DIY.org.
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Facts about elastic energy and physics experiments for kids
⚠️ Always aim at soft, safe targets, keep fingers and faces clear, and consider eye protection—small toothpicks can seriously hurt eyes.
🪄 A straw-and-rubber-band launcher is a tiny catapult—ancient catapults used the same basic idea to fling projectiles.
🎯 In ideal physics, a projectile launched on level ground reaches maximum range at about a 45° angle.
📏 Measuring several jumps and averaging results is a simple way to practice data collection and reduce random error.
🧪 Rubber bands store elastic potential energy; within limits their stretch roughly follows Hooke's Law (force ∝ stretch).
How do you make a jumping toothpick launcher and measure jumps?
What materials do I need for the jumping toothpick trick?
What ages is the jumping toothpick activity suitable for?
What safety tips and variations can we try with the jumping toothpick trick?
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