R
RichD
- Jan 1, 1970
- 0
I have these little quiz problems, intended for Joe Sixpack,
to delve their beliefs about basic science. I've posted some here.
So, "drinking through a straw, how does that work?"
"well, you suck in the liquid, duh!"
"yeah, but what makes the liquid go up the straw?"
"you suck it in, obviously!"
"This sucking thing - is that like a pressure differential,
outside air pressure pushes it?"
"No, air pressure isn't enough, you have tio PULL it!"
They don't get it. They sort of understand respiration -
atmospheric pressure pushes air into your lungs - but
that clearly doesn't explain the straw; water is too
dense, air pressure can't push that!
Similarly with a vacuum cleaner, the machine PULLS the air..
It's an example of the First Law, the Law of Mind Boggle:
if you can't imagine something, it can't be true.
Try it on your friends and business associates -
to delve their beliefs about basic science. I've posted some here.
So, "drinking through a straw, how does that work?"
"well, you suck in the liquid, duh!"
"yeah, but what makes the liquid go up the straw?"
"you suck it in, obviously!"
"This sucking thing - is that like a pressure differential,
outside air pressure pushes it?"
"No, air pressure isn't enough, you have tio PULL it!"
They don't get it. They sort of understand respiration -
atmospheric pressure pushes air into your lungs - but
that clearly doesn't explain the straw; water is too
dense, air pressure can't push that!
Similarly with a vacuum cleaner, the machine PULLS the air..
It's an example of the First Law, the Law of Mind Boggle:
if you can't imagine something, it can't be true.
Try it on your friends and business associates -