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Science in Pajamas: Swimming Squid

  • Jul 17, 2018
  • 1 min read

Updated: May 23, 2019


Squid, which are similar to the octopus, have eight arms and two tentacles. The arms, called cephalopod limbs, resemble those on an octopus with suckers along their length. The two extra tentacles have suckers only their ends, and are meant to capture food such as fish and crabs.


Its powerful muscles contract to force out jets of water that propel it in the opposite direction that they’re facing - so it swims backward in a zigzag formation. As a strategy to avoid predators, it can shoot out an inky fluid made from melanin particles called sepia that creates a dark cloud, allowing it to create a diversion and flee to safety.


See the quick movements of a squid for yourself with a homemade creation!


What you'll need:

  • balloon

  • water

  • squirt cap (the type that comes on sports drinks works well)

  • bathtub

Instructions:

Fill the bathtub with water. Then, fill the balloon with water, and while you keep the neck pinched closed, have a friend stretch the lip up over a closed squirt cap. Hold your balloon “squid” underwater one end of the tub or sink, open the cap nozzle, and let go. Water will shoot out of the bottle and propel the balloon in the opposite direction - mimicking a real squid!


If you're interested in the detailed physics behind this movement, here's a great resource.

Resources and References:

  • Littlefield, Cindy A. Awesome Ocean Science: Investigating the Secrets of the Underwater World. Williamson Books, 2006.

  • Zych, Ariel. “Jet Propulsion Locomotion of Squid and Octopus.” Science Friday, www.sciencefriday.com/educational-resources/jet-setting-cephalopods/.

  • Watson, Stephanie. “How Squid Work.” HowStuffWorks, HowStuffWorks, 1 June 2007, animals.howstuffworks.com/marine-life/squid2.htm.


 
 
 

16 Comments


79KING
Jan 11

Hôm qua, mình đang tìm thông tin về các trang cá cược trực tuyến thì tình cờ thấy nhắc đến 79KING trên một diễn đàn. Mình cũng mở ra xem thử, chủ yếu là để tìm hiểu cách thức hoạt động và các ưu đãi họ có. Giao diện khá bắt mắt, dễ dàng điều hướng, nhưng mình thấy tốc độ tải trang hơi chậm một chút so với một số trang khác mà mình đã thử trước đây. Đặc biệt, mình ấn tượng với cách họ trình bày các thông tin khuyến mãi, khá rõ ràng và dễ hiểu. Dù chưa quyết định đăng ký, nhưng mình đã bookmark lại để xem tiếp sau. Có thể là một lựa…

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Miranda
Nov 26, 2025

Science in Pajamas Slitherio  is a fun and educational series that explores fascinating topics in biology, physics, and the natural world, all in a relaxed, accessible style.

Edited
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Nano Banana Pro
Nov 24, 2025

This is a neat little piece about squid! It's amazing to think about the science happening, even when we're relaxed. Speaking of creative ideas, if you're ever looking for inspiration for visuals to go with science concepts, you might find something interesting on AI Image Generator By Nano Banana Pro. They generate images from text, which could be helpful!

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Merge JPG
Oct 28, 2025

This article about swimming squid is fascinating! It's amazing to learn about these creatures and their movements. I find it really interesting how science can be explored in such an engaging way. If you're looking for a quick and easy way to organize your images, I recommend checking out Merge JPG. It's a great tool!

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Markdown to Word
Oct 28, 2025

That was a fascinating read about swimming squid! It's amazing to learn about the science behind these creatures in such an accessible way. I often find myself taking notes while reading articles like this, and I've found a great tool to help with organization. If you, like me, enjoy compiling notes or drafts, I recommend checking out Markdown to Word. It's perfect for converting your notes into a clean, easy-to-manage format.

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