Straws are one of the most basic tools that humans have been using for thousands of years to help quench our thirst. They are so common that people rarely think of how they work. Most assume that straws work by pulling liquid through them into the mouth. However, the science behind straws is a little more complicated.
To understand how straws function, you have to first grasp the concept of air pressure, or atmospheric pressure. Air pressure is the force exerted by the weight of the air surrounding us, though we can neither see nor feel it. It presses on the surface of all objects, including any liquid inside a cup. When a straw is placed in a cup of water, the air pressure acting on the water both inside and outside the straw is equal. However, air will be removed from the straw with the suction of liquid, making the pressure inside the straw lower than the pressure outside. The greater pressure outside the straw will then push the liquid inside the straw up into the mouth until the pressure levels are equal again. Thus, rather than only being sucked up by a straw, the liquid is also pushed up by differences in pressure levels.
If straws rely on atmospheric pressure to function, it begs the question: Can straws work in outer space? Space is almost like a vacuum where there is not enough force to propel liquid. Therefore, using a straw in outer space outside the artificial atmosphere of a space station would be impracticable. Luckily, our planet has a stable atmosphere that allows us to use straws for all of our favorite drinks.
Photo: AdobeStock I 照片： AdobeStock
數千年來，吸管是人類用來幫助自己解渴的最基本工具之一。吸管非常普遍，以至於人們很少想過它們是如何運作的。大多數人以為吸管是將液體拉上來、穿過管內而抵達口中。但是，吸管背後的科學稍微複雜一點。
要了解吸管如何運作，你得先理解氣壓（或稱大氣壓力）的概念。氣壓是我們四周空氣的重量所施加的力量，不過我們既看不到也感覺不到氣壓。氣壓會壓在所有物體的表面，包含杯子裡的任何液體。當吸管被置於一杯水裡時，施加於吸管內、外水面上的氣壓是相等的。然而，空氣會隨著液體的吸入而從吸管中被移除，這會使吸管內的壓力比吸管外小。吸管外較大的壓力接著會將吸管內的液體往上推至口中，直到內外的壓力值再度相等。因此，液體不僅僅是被吸管吸起來，還被壓力值的差異推進。
如果吸管仰賴大氣壓力來運作，那就帶來了一個問題：吸管在外太空可以用嗎？太空幾乎是真空狀態，沒有足夠的力量能推動液體。因此，在太空站人造大氣外的太空中使用吸管是行不通的。幸好我們的星球有穩定的大氣，能讓我們使用吸管來飲用所有我們喜愛的飲品。
What Did You Learn?
1. How will pressure change when one sucks liquid from a straw?
2. Why don’t straws work in space?
參考答案
1. The pressure inside the straw becomes lower than the pressure outside.
2. Because there is not enough force (in space) to propel the liquid. / Because there is no air / atmospheric pressure (in space).
Word in Use
1. straw n. 吸管
Plastic straws are becoming a threat to creatures under the sea.
塑膠吸管逐漸對海底生物造成威脅。
2. assume vt. 以為，認為
assume + that 子句 以為∕認為……
We assumed that the plane would be delayed due to the bad weather, but it wasn’t.
我們以為飛機會因為天氣不佳而延誤，但卻沒有。
3. complicated a. 複雜的
People new to the city are often confused by the complicated transportation system.
初到該市的人常對其複雜的交通系統感到困惑。
4. function vi. 運作
My laptop hasn’t functioned properly since I spilled water on it.
自從我把水灑到我的筆電上，它就一直無法正常運作。
5. grasp vt. 理解，領會
I didn’t grasp what the movie tried to convey at first, but I figured it out after reading some reviews.
我一開始不理解該電影試圖表達什麼，但我讀完一些評論後就懂了。
Practical Phrases
1. quench one’s thirst 解某人的渴
quench vt. 解渴
After the PE class, the students headed to the vending machine to buy drinks to quench their thirst.
體育課後，學生們前去販賣機買飲料來解渴。
2. neither... nor.... 既不……也不……
“neither... nor...” 為對等連接詞片語，可連接對等的單字、片語或子句。用來連接兩個主詞時，其後動詞須隨最近的主詞（即 nor 之後的主詞）變化。
It is neither cold nor hot today, which makes it perfect to go outdoors.
今天不冷也不熱，正好適合出去走走。
Neither my brother nor I am familiar with all of our relatives.
我哥哥和我不是對所有親戚都很熟。
3. remove A from B 將 A 從 B 中移除∕除去
Jason removed all of the old textbooks from his room to have more space.
傑森將他所有的舊參考書移出房間以便擁有更多空間。
4. suck up... / suck... up 將……吸起來，吸進∕吸取……
suck [ sVk ] vt. 吸吮
The girl sucked up all the juice in her glass with a straw.
那個女孩用吸管吸光了她玻璃杯裡的果汁。
5. beg the question （某事）帶來一個問題
As AI technology keeps developing, it begs the question: Will humans be replaced?
隨著人工智慧科技持續地發展，這帶來了一個問題：人類會被取代嗎？
聽文章朗讀及講解: https://ivy.pse.is/455bfu
本文出自常春藤解析英語雜誌: www.ivy.com.tw
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