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 assumethat straws work by pulling liquid through them into the mouth. However, the science behind straws is a little more complicated.
To understand how strawsfunction, you have to first graspthe concept of air pressure, or atmospheric pressure. Air pressure is the force exerted by the weight of the air surroundingus, though we can neithersee 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 fromthe 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 vacuumwhere there is not enough force to propel liquid. Therefore, using a straw in outer space outside the artificialatmosphereof a space station would be impracticable. Luckily, our planet has a stableatmosphere that allows us to use straws for all of our favorite drinks.
What Did You Learn?
1. How will pressure change when one sucks liquid from a straw?
2. Why don’t straws work in space?
單字片語整理
Words in Use
●
straw
[strɔ]
n. 稻草（不可數）；吸管（可數）
=
hay
You look very charming when you wear that straw hat.
妳戴著那頂草帽時模樣真迷人。
The little boy used a straw to drink his juice.
小男孩用一根吸管來喝果汁。
When the boss asked him to work overtime again, John said, “That’s the last straw! I quit!”
老闆要他再加班時，約翰便說：『我已到了忍無可忍的地步了！老子不幹了！』
高中 Level 3
●
assume
[əˋsjum]
vt. 假定，認為（以 that ... 作受詞）；負起（責任）
Paul assumed that his girlfriend was joking when she said he was ugly.
保羅的女友說他很醜時，他認定她一定是在開玩笑。
After his parents passed away, the boy assumed the burden of raising the family.
男孩的父母雙亡後，他便負起養家的責任。
多益藍色
英檢初級
高中 Level 3
●
complicated
[ˋkɑmplə͵ketɪd]
a. 複雜的
=
complex
The problem is too complicated to solve.
這個問題太複雜了，無法解決。
多益綠色
英檢中級
高中 Level 4
●
function
[ˋfʌŋkʃən]
n. 功能，職責
vi. 運作
I think one of the functions of art is healing.
我認為藝術的功用之一是療癒。
The computer stopped functioning after the power failure.
停電之後，電腦就停止運作了。
Rick is an accountant and also functions as a dance teacher.
瑞克是會計師，同時也是名舞蹈老師。
The basement also functions as a gym.
地下室也可當健身房使用。
多益藍色
英檢初級
高中 Level 2
●
grasp
[græsp]
vt. 緊抓；理解
n. 抓，緊握
A man in a black suit grasped Paul by the arm and shook him violently, telling him to stay out of their business.
一名黑衣人抓住保羅的手臂大力搖晃，要他別再管他們的事。
Most readers found it hard to grasp the meaning of this poem.
大部分的讀者都覺得難以理解這首詩的意思。
Kelly held her husband’s hand in a tight grasp.
凱莉緊緊握住她先生的手。
多益金色
英檢中級
高中 Level 3
●
surround
[səˋraʊnd]
vt. 環繞
All the classmates surrounded Tom, praising him for his musical talent at the concert.
所有班上同學都圍繞著湯姆，讚美他在演唱會所展現的音樂天賦。
I live in a small village which is surrounded by lush hills.
我住在青山環繞的一座小村莊裡。
多益綠色
英檢中級
高中 Level 3
●
vacuum
[ˋvækjʊəm]
vt. 吸塵
n. 真空
Barry’s mother asked him to vacuum his room before he left for the afternoon.
貝瑞的媽媽請他下午出去前先把自己的房間用吸塵器吸過。
This latest model of vacuum cleaner can move automatically by itself, according to the instructions.
根據使用說明書，這臺最新型的吸塵器可以自動移動。
The learning of social skills does not take place in a vacuum.
社交技能是不能在與外界隔離的環境下習得的。
英檢中高
高中 Level 5
●
artificial
[͵ɑrtəˋfɪʃəl]
a. 人造的；虛偽的，不真誠的
Some artificial flowers are made of paper.
有些人造花是用紙做的。
The official welcomed me with an artificial smile.
這位官員帶著虛偽的微笑歡迎我。
多益藍色
英檢中級
高中 Level 4
●
atmosphere
[ˋætməs͵fɪr]
n. 大氣；空氣；氛圍
=
feeling
=
mood
The satellite is fixed at a point just outside the Earth’s atmosphere.
那枚衛星被安置在地球大氣層外的某個定點上。
Mildew easily forms in my room because of the damp atmosphere.
因為空氣很潮溼，我的房間很容易長黴。
I like the warm and pleasant atmosphere in that coffee shop.
我喜歡那家咖啡廳溫暖又愉快的氣氛。
多益綠色
英檢中級
高中 Level 4
●
stable
[ˋsteb!]
a. 穩定的
The company is currently stable and doing well.
這家公司目前狀況穩定，運作良好。
Shortly after treatment, the patient was in stable condition.
經過治療之後不久，病人的情況就穩定了。
多益金色
英檢中級
高中 Level 3
●
neither
[ˋnaɪðɚ]
adj. 兩者都不 的
conj. 既不（與連接詞 nor 並用）
Neither boy is foolish. 2 個男孩都不笨。
Neither you nor I am wrong.
你沒錯，我也沒錯。
●
remove
[rɪˋmuv]
vt. 移開，除去
I removed a coffee stain from the shirt with a special cleanser.
我用一種特別的清潔劑把襯衫上的咖啡漬去掉了。
多益綠色
英檢中級
高中 Level 2
Extra Words
●
atmospheric
[͵ætməsˋfɛrɪk]
a. 大氣的
●
exert
[ɪgˋzɝt]
vt. . 施加（影響、壓力等）；盡力（用於下列片語中）
=
expert
The manager exerted pressure on the employees to
get things done more quickly.
經理向員工施加壓力，要他們快點把事情做完。
You’ll have to exert yourself if you want to get good
grades.
你如果想得到好成績，就必須盡力才行。
高中 Level 5
●
suction
[ˋsʌkʃən]
n. 吸入
●
propel
[prəˋpɛl]
vt. 推動，推進
三態
propelled [ prə`pɛld ] / propelled [ prə`pɛld ]
=
push
This state-of-the-art sports car is propelled purely by solar energy.
這輛最先進的跑車完全由太陽能所驅動。
高中 Level 6
●
impracticable
[ɪmˋpræktɪkəb!]
a. 行不通的
●
air pressure
氣壓
Practical Phrases
●
quench one’s thirst
止渴
I need a glass of water to quench my thirst.
我需要一杯水止渴。
●
neither... nor...
既不……也不…… （＊連接對等的單字或片語；若連接 主詞時，動詞按第 2 個主詞作變 化。）
Danny is neither friendly nor generous.
丹尼既不友善也不慷慨。
Neither you nor I am wrong.
你沒錯，我也沒錯。
●
remove A from B
將 A 從 B 中除去
I removed a coffee stain from the shirt with a special cleanser.
我用一種特別的清潔劑把襯衫上的咖啡漬去掉了。
●
suck up... / suck... up
將⋯⋯吸起來，吸進／吸取⋯⋯
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。
●
beg the question
讓人不禁要問
All the findings beg the question: Did humans evolve from apes?
所有的研究結果讓人不禁要問：人類是否是由猿類演化而成的？
