A can of Pringles, anyone?

Hi

First off, in case you don't know Pringles, it just another potato chip snack served in cylindrical can (not actually a can, since it's paper-based). I have a question here:
Just now, I have my Pringles can on the table lying (as opposed to standing) and there's still bits of potato chips inside. When I press the can downward in such way that the can begins to spin (like a wheel), I notice that the potato bits move away from its base out of the can. How can this be?

 

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How does pressing down cause it to spin? the problem I would say, has to do with the pressing rather than spinning. By pressing the can, u decrease its volume and increase the air pressure. This results in an outward flow of air that the bits get caught up in.

 

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If I remember correctly, there should be small grooves of helical impressions in the interior of the can, no? This should be an explanation.

If the can is spinning fast for a certain amount of time, the can should've moved a sufficient amount of air adjacent to the interior wall to spin along with it. The centripetal force creates an outwards pressure, and the air flows out of the opening. And it should carry the bits of potato chip with it.

 

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its like the barrel of a gun the grooves slowly push it out

 

oh my god people, WOW, get a life!

 

Ill shoot you with my pringles shooter ^^

 

Pringles are a government experiment in alien technology...but you already knew that right?

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is there a chance that the tube is actually resting at a slight downward incline?

What happens if you repeat the experiment with the tube facing the other way?

 

I would think centrifugal force would propell the small chips towards both ends of the can. If they are only flying out of the open end, perhaps it has something to do with static electricity.

On a similar note, I once visited the research and development department of Proctor and Gamble, who makes pringles, and they had crafted perfect replicas of pringles out of plastic for use in- get this- wind tunnel testing!

 

I think river-wind has the key.
On the closed end of the can, there is a metal ring.
There is no ring on the open end.

 

:bugeye: Did they explain WHY?

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They had to know how fast a pringle would fall through the air, so they could engineer the production and packaging equipment.