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Experiment: The Brazil Nut Effect

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Laboratory
The Brazil Nut Effect

 

 

Materials for experiment

In Stratification & Segregation: Why Does Some Sandstone Have Stripes? Hernán Makse shows how sand grains of different sizes and shapes may naturally separate after being thoroughly mixed together. Here's a way to show how large grains separate from smaller grains.

 

Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
 

Tools & Materials

  • A glass jar about a liter (a quart) in size, with a wide mouth
  • Uncooked rice to fill the jar about three fourths of the way to the top
  • A small rubber ball

The Experiment

  1. Put the ball in the jar along with the rice. Push the ball down so that it is buried in the rice.
  2. Now place the jar on the table and shake it back and forth. What happens? Can you explain the phenomenon?

But why is it called the "Brazil Nut Effect"? When you open a can of mixed nuts -- peanuts, cashews, almonds and Brazil nuts -- it often seems that the big Brazil nuts are on top. How did it happen?

Check our results.
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SEED Science Center

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Here's a story about natural phenomena that explains why some sandstone has stripes.

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Other Web Sites

These links go outside the SEED web site. When you click on one it will open in a new browser window. Close that window when you are done (don't use the Back button ) and you will be looking at this page again.

Hernán Makse's Home Page

You'll find a more detailed and technical explanation of the phenomena described in "Stratification & Segregation: Why Does Some Sandstone Have Stripes?" along with reports on other areas that Hernán has researched.

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