Today we’re going to do three experiments that all use eggs. Be ready to get sticky!
What you will need: About a dozen eggs, one or two hardboiled eggs, a utility knife, adhesive tape, some big, heavy books, a glass bottle, some paper and a lighter or matches.
今天我們要來做三個跟蛋有關的實驗,準備弄得黏答答的吧!
PHOTO: MICHAEL KEARNEY, TAIPEI TIMES
所需材料︰約一打雞蛋、一或兩顆煮熟的蛋、一把美工刀、膠布、幾本又大又重的書、一個玻璃瓶、一些紙、一個打火機或一些火柴
EXPERIMENT ONE 實驗一
PHOTO: MICHAEL KEARNEY, TAIPEI TIMES
Eggs are really, really strong. If you don’t believe it, try this: 1. Wrap a piece of tape around the center of an egg. 2. Carefully chip away at the pointy “tip” of the egg. Clear enough of the shell away so you can pour out the innards. 3. Use the utility knife to cut the egg in half. Cut along the center of the piece of tape and try to keep the bottom half of the shell from cracking. 4. Repeat until you have four halves with shells that aren’t cracked beyond the tape. 5. Use the four egg halves as a stand for one of the books. Add another book, then another. How many books can you place on top of the eggs before they bust?
蛋非常、非常地堅硬,如果你不相信,試試看這個實驗。1.在一顆雞蛋的中間貼上一圈膠帶。2.小心翼翼地在蛋比較尖的那端鑿一個小開口,清除部份蛋殼以便倒出裡面的蛋液。3.沿著膠布的正中間下手,用美工刀把蛋切成兩半,小心不要把下半部的蛋殼弄破了。4.重複上述動作,直到你準備好四個除了膠帶以外的地方都沒有裂縫的半個蛋殼。5.用這四個一半的蛋殼作為其中一本書的四個支角,然後再把書一本一本疊上去。在蛋殼被壓破前,你一共可以放上幾本書?
HOW IT WORKS 原理一
An arch is a curved surface that’s very good at supporting loads. Have you ever seen an arched bridge? The weight of the bridge, and anything on top of it, is pushed outward along the arch. That enables the bridge to hold up lots of weight. The shells in the experiment were also shaped like arches, which made them able to hold up lots of weight.
拱形就是一個圓弧的表面,很適合用來支撐重量。你曾看過拱橋嗎?拱橋本身和所有加諸其上的重量會沿著拱形結構向外分散,讓拱橋可以支撐很重的重量。這個實驗中的蛋殼形狀就像拱形一樣,所以它們才能支撐很重的重量。
EXPERIMENT TWO 實驗二
How many books did you pile on top of the eggs? Were you impressed at how strong eggs are? If not, try this: Hold an egg in your hand. Squeeze it, making sure to apply equal pressure all around. You might need to try a few eggs until you get used to applying pressure uniformly. This experiment is probably best done over a sink, and make sure you’re not wearing a ring.
你總共疊了幾本書在蛋殼上呢?蛋的強韌度令你印象深刻嗎?如果沒有,再來試試這個:手握一顆蛋,務必均勻施力緊握整顆蛋。在習慣平均施力前,你可能會犧牲幾顆蛋,所以最好在水槽上方做這個實驗,而且最好不要戴著戒指。
HOW IT WORKS 原理二
Anyone can break an egg by applying pressure to one point. But if you applied pressure uniformly, unless you crush apples in your hand as a hobby, you probably weren’t able to break the egg.
如果針對一點施力的話,誰都可以徒手捏破一顆蛋。但如果施力平均,除非你平常有在練徒手碎蘋果,否則大概沒辦法徒手擠破一顆蛋。
EXPERIMENT THREE 實驗三
For the last experiment, you’re going to get the inside of a hardboiled egg into a glass bottle. Have an adult help out because you’ll need to use a lighter. 1. Chip the shell away from a hardboiled egg. 2. Light a piece of paper, and put it into the glass bottle. Let it burn for a few seconds, and before it goes out, place the egg on top of the bottle. 3. Watch the egg get sucked into the bottle.
最後一個實驗,你要讓一顆剝了殼的熟蛋被吸進玻璃瓶中。因為需要用到打火機,所以請一個大人幫你忙。1.把一顆全熟的蛋剝殼。2.點燃一張紙,然後把紙放到玻璃瓶中,讓它在裡面燃燒個幾秒鐘,在它快要熄滅的時候,把蛋放在瓶口。3.觀察蛋被吸進玻璃瓶的過程。
HOW IT WORKS 原理三
When you placed the burning paper into the bottle, the air inside heated up and expanded. Some of it escaped. But when the flame went out, the air inside the bottle cooled and contracted. The air pressure outside the bottle was greater than the air pressure inside. That caused the egg, and some air, to get sucked inside.
當你將那張燃燒的紙放入瓶中,瓶內的空氣加溫後會膨脹,其中一部分會逸出瓶外。但當火苗熄滅後,瓶裡的空氣冷卻下來並開始收縮,此時瓶外的氣壓大於瓶內的氣壓,所以瓶口的蛋和部份空氣便會被吸入瓶內。
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