Lift a Bottle using Single Straw
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Problem
How can a bottle be lifted using a single straw?
Solution
Bend the straw, so that the length after the bend is a little wider than the width of the bottle.
Push the bent corner into the bottle, so that when it opens out, the bent bit will open out with one end against the side of the bottle, inside the neck.
Then lift the other end of the straw, and the straw will act like a barb, and the bent bit will prevent the straw from coming out of the bottle.
It will exert enough force on the bottle so as to allow the latter to be lifted into the air.
Historical Note
This puzzle is typical of those found in collections of Victorian amusements.
Sources
- 1633: Henry van Etten: Mathematicall Recreations (translated by William Oughtred from Récréations Mathématiques)
- 1992: David Wells: Curious and Interesting Puzzles ... (previous) ... (next): Henry van Etten: $115$