Magic using water: recommended tricks for party entertainment and performances.
Among magic tricks, those that use water make you think, “If they mess up, won’t it spill!?” and keep you on the edge of your seat, don’t they?
In this article, we’ll introduce a variety of magic tricks that use water.
We’ve gathered tricks featuring impossible phenomena: poured water vanishes and reappears, containers don’t leak even when punctured or turned upside down, and more.
We’ll also introduce coin magic that uses water, so be sure to find your favorite trick and give it a try!
Magic tricks using water. Recommended tricks for parties and performances (1–10)
Disappearance and Reappearance of Water Poured onto Newspaper
It would be strange if water suddenly disappeared, wouldn’t it? With that in mind, here’s a magic trick where water poured onto newspaper disappears and then reappears.
First, prepare two paper cups and some newspaper.
Beforehand, cut off the top portion of one of the paper cups to make it smaller.
Next, hold the smaller cup so it’s hidden behind the newspaper, and pretend to pour water onto the newspaper using the other cup.
In reality, pour the water into the hidden cup.
Then, at the right moment, stack the cups together, and it will look as though the water has vanished and then returned to the cup.
A glass that won’t spill water even when turned upside down
We’re introducing a glass that won’t spill even when turned upside down—sure to amaze everyone.
The trick is to place a sheet of kitchen paper over a glass filled with water and then flip it over.
You might think it would spill, but thanks to surface tension, it doesn’t.
This would be a real crowd-pleaser in places where you’re not supposed to get things wet.
Depending on the balance, you can swap the kitchen paper for tissue paper or use a larger container instead of a glass.
Since accidents can happen, be sure to rehearse before performing it in front of others.
A coin passes through a glass of water.
This is a magic trick where you make a coin pass through a glass of water.
The trick uses the refraction of light caused by the water; when viewed from the front, the refractive index makes the coin invisible.
Anyone can do it without special skill, so I highly recommend it.
The water poured into the cup disappears!? A fun magic trick
Even though water is being poured, the glass is empty?! In this magic trick, it only looks like you’re pouring into the glass—the water is actually being directed to the area in front of the glass.
In the video, there’s another person under the table waiting with their mouth open, but if you devise a way to keep it quiet, you could substitute an absorbent pad or another container.
However, if the water flows too forcefully, it’ll be obvious you’re not pouring into the glass, so the key is making it look natural.
It’s a trick that tests your acting skills more than your technique!
Magic of grasping water in a container
It looks like magic where you’re grabbing water itself, but it’s actually done with a very simple trick! All you need is a container filled with water and a hook with a suction cup.
Hide the hook in your hand, then when you put your hand into the water, secretly press the suction cup onto the bottom while acting, and if you let go of the hand supporting the container, the trick is a success.
In the video, they use a ramen bowl, but since a weak suction cup might come off and drop it, it’s safer to choose something as light as possible and made of a material that won’t break.
When you cast a spell on water, it turns into grape juice.
Let me introduce a science-based magic trick that turns water into grape juice.
First, pour water into a glass.
Then make a magical gesture while saying something like, “I will turn this water into grape juice.” The water will rapidly change to a purple color.
The secret lies in the water you pour at the beginning.
It isn’t ordinary water; it’s actually a potassium iodate solution with starch added.
This triggers the iodine clock reaction, which causes the color change.
You don’t need to understand the fine details of the mechanism—why not just give it a try first?
Magic that turns juice into water
A mysterious magic trick where juice turns into water in an instant… The truth is, there was never any juice in there to begin with! All you need are two clear cups, water, colored pens, and a cloth to cover the cups.
Cut one of the clear cups with scissors and remove the bottom with a utility knife.
Color it with pens so it looks like juice, then fit it inside the unaltered clear cup.
Next, pour water up to the colored section to make it look like juice.
Finally, while covering it with the cloth, use your thumb to pull out the inner cup you prepared.
Success! It looks like the water has changed color.