Why Won’t It Mix? Discover the Brazil Nut Effect

Why Won’t It Mix? Discover the Brazil Nut Effect

Have you ever noticed that the dried fruits or nuts in your breakfast cereal are not evenly spread out inside the box, or that in a container of mixed nuts Brazil nuts gather at the top? This phenomenon is commonly called the "Brazil nut effect," and the science behind it is surprisingly complex and far-reaching. Learn more about the "Brazil nut effect" in this teaching guide.

Topics

  • properties of matter
  • density
  • granular material
  • mixture
  • separation
  • Brazil nut effect