In a fun and curious chat, two friends, Nige and Quan, dive into the idea of using a super long straw to drink from far away. Their playful experiments help them discover the science behind how straws work and the limits of suction.
It all starts when Nige dreams of having a straw long enough to reach from the living room to the kitchen, so he wouldn’t have to walk downstairs for a drink. They figure out that such a straw would need to be about 3 to 4 meters long. This sparks the idea to test if it’s possible to make such a straw.
To begin their experiment, Nige and Quan tape together several drinking straws to make a 1-meter-long straw. Nige tries to drink through it, but air leaks through the joints, making it useless. So, they decide to use 6 meters of non-toxic plastic tubing instead. Nige gets ready to lower the tubing from the balcony to see if he can suck liquid through it.
As Nige lowers the tubing, the excitement grows. He successfully sucks liquid up through the 6-meter tube, impressing his friend. This success encourages Quan to try using a thicker tube.
They start talking about how straws actually work. When you suck on a straw, you create a difference in air pressure. By lowering the pressure in your mouth, the atmospheric pressure pushes the liquid up the straw. This is key to understanding how high liquid can be drawn through a straw.
With their initial success, Nige is ready for the ultimate test: sucking liquid through a straw that’s 10.3 meters long. They set up the experiment at Tamarama Beach, where Nige tries to draw liquid up the long tubing.
Despite his efforts, Nige can only pull the liquid up to about 7 meters. This leads to a discussion about the physics behind the maximum height liquid can be lifted through a straw.
The friends explain that the maximum height to which liquid can be drawn through a straw depends on the balance of forces. The pressure difference created by sucking must equal the weight of the liquid column, which is affected by the liquid’s density and gravity. They conclude that even under perfect conditions, the maximum height for drawing liquid through a straw is about 10.3 meters, based on atmospheric pressure principles.
Through their playful experiments, Nige and Quan not only had fun but also discovered the fascinating science of how straws work. Their journey shows how physics and everyday objects are connected, proving that even simple tasks can lead to deeper understanding and exploration.
Gather materials like plastic tubing or straws and tape to create your own long straw. Try to drink water through it and observe what happens. Discuss with your classmates why it might be difficult to suck the liquid through a longer straw.
Use a simple setup with a straw and a glass of water to demonstrate how sucking creates a pressure difference. Measure how high you can lift the water and relate it to the concept of atmospheric pressure. Discuss why there’s a limit to how high the water can be drawn.
Using the formula for atmospheric pressure, calculate the maximum height you can theoretically suck water through a straw. Use the equation $$h = frac{P_{text{atm}}}{rho g}$$ where $P_{text{atm}}$ is atmospheric pressure, $rho$ is the density of water, and $g$ is the acceleration due to gravity. Discuss your findings with the class.
In groups, create a short skit where you explain how straws work using props and costumes. Act out the roles of atmospheric pressure, the liquid, and the person sucking on the straw. This will help you visualize and understand the forces at play.
Research and present on real-world applications of suction and pressure differences, such as how vacuum cleaners work or how plants use capillary action to draw water from the soil. Share your findings with the class and discuss how these concepts are similar to the straw experiment.
Straw – A thin tube used to move liquid from one place to another by creating a difference in pressure. – When you drink soda through a straw, you create lower pressure inside the straw, causing the liquid to rise.
Suction – The process of creating a partial vacuum to move or hold objects by pressure differences. – The vacuum cleaner uses suction to pick up dirt from the floor.
Pressure – The force exerted on a surface per unit area, often measured in Pascals (Pa). – The pressure inside a balloon increases as you blow more air into it.
Liquid – A state of matter with a definite volume but no fixed shape, allowing it to flow and take the shape of its container. – Water is a liquid that can easily fill the shape of any container.
Density – The mass of a substance per unit volume, often measured in grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm³). – The density of water is approximately $1 , text{g/cm}^3$.
Gravity – The force of attraction between objects with mass, pulling them toward each other. – Gravity is what keeps the planets in orbit around the Sun.
Experiment – A scientific procedure undertaken to test a hypothesis or demonstrate a known fact. – We conducted an experiment to see how different materials affect the speed of a rolling ball.
Mechanics – The branch of physics dealing with the motion of objects and the forces that affect them. – In physics class, we studied the mechanics of how a car accelerates and stops.
Height – The measurement of an object from base to top, often affecting potential energy in physics. – The height of the ramp affects how fast the toy car will roll down it.
Forces – Pushes or pulls that can cause an object to move, stop, or change direction. – Several forces, including friction and gravity, act on a sliding hockey puck.
