Today's Useless Science: The Can-Balancing Trick

Have you ever noticed that a half-full can of soda is less prone to tipping over and spilling than a full one?

Have you ever noticed that a nearly-empty can of soda is MORE prone to tipping than a half-full one? 

Have you ever taught your grandchildren that trick of balancing a can of soda at a 45 degree angle, on the grooves on the bottom of the can?

Try balancing it like this.

 Here's the science behind it.

The good folks at the Department of Useless Science have taken the specs on the aluminum used in a can of soda, and the density of a typical carbonated drink, and calculated the center of gravity for that can of soda - from the moment before it is opened, to the moment the last drop is drained. Here's what they found.

The center of gravity is lowest when the can is a bit less than one quarter full. Knowing that, you can do that cool balancing trick to impress your grandkids.

You can also predict the most likely moment that the youngest grandchild will knock over any random open can of soda.