Marble Uses

Marbles are often seen only as a game to be played (see previous post on classic game) or as part of a game. In fact though, marbles have many uses today and throughout history. Listed below are some of those uses.

1. Paint Cans: paint cans have marbles in them to stir the paint as they are shaken
2. Mausoleums: marbles are placed under caskets when they are slid into mausoleums
3. Marbles are placed in kettle's of boiling water. When the water begins to boil, the marble rattles on the bottom to alert that the water is boiling.
4. When placed in a saucepan with jam, marbles on the bottom help keep the jam off the bottom and keep it from burning
5. Level: placing a marble on a surface will tell you if it is level
6. Ammunition: shooting marbles using a sling shot (this spelled the demise of many a marble)
7. As decoration: planters, aquariums, in wet concrete
8. Possible myth: placing a marble in a bird bath filled with water will attract birds

Questions:
Is it true that placing a marble on  a surface will tell you if it is level or flat? When might this not be accurate?
Research placing a marble in a bird bath to find if it really attracts birds. If you have a bird bath try it out!
Can you find any marbles that are being used in you home?
What other uses can you come up with for marbles?

Add a marble?