411 REFERENCE · Wiktionary
Brazil nut effect
Reference material by Wiktionary contributors. This retains its source identity and is not 411 news reporting.
English
Etymology
Referring to this behaviour in containers of mixed nuts, where Brazil nuts are typically the largest.
Noun
Brazil nut effect
The phenomenon of granular convection or segregation, where granular material subjected to shaking or vibration exhibits circulation patterns like those of a fluid, causing the larger particles to end up on top.
See also
en popcorn effect