Why Does a Straw Work? It's Not Really Sucking!

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why does a straw work?

The Big Idea

Here's a secret: you don't really suck a drink up a straw. The air all around us is pushing on everything, all the time. And that push is what sends your drink up the straw!

Lower Pressure

Step one: you lower the air pressure in the straw. When you sip, your mouth and lungs make extra room, and pull some air out of the straw. Now there's less air inside the straw pushing down on the drink.

Outside Air Pushes

Step two: outside air pushes on the drink. There's a huge ocean of air above us, and its weight presses down on the drink in the glass. Now the push outside the straw is stronger than the push inside.

Liquid Rises

Step three: that push sends liquid up the straw. The drink gets squeezed toward the spot with less push, which is up the straw and into your mouth! So the air outside is doing the work for you.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! Inside the straw, there's less air pressure. Outside, the air pushes down hard on the drink. So the liquid rises up the straw!

Quick Facts

Quick facts! You don't really suck the drink up. Air pushes it! The air presses on you with about the weight of a one-kilogram bag of sugar on every fingernail-sized spot! On the Moon, there's no air, so a straw would not work at all. People have used drinking straws for about five thousand years!

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Pinch the top of your straw shut, and try to drink. What happens? Now dip a straw into water, and cover the top with your finger. Lift it out. The water stays inside the straw! Air pushing up from below holds it there. Lift your finger, and splash!

Outro

So every time you sip through a straw, remember: the air around you is giving your drink a big push! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!