Last week I received a collegial e-mail, noting that our recent Friday videos were increasingly bleak, and that sometimes we can all just use some cute cats to get through the end of the week. As a natural contrarian, my immediate thought was to respond with the video below (warning, those with high blood pressure may wish to abstain from viewing):
But in the end, the e-mailer was right. These are challenging times in so many ways. So instead, here’s a fun video with some science behind it. Likely you’ve seen these drinking bird toys your whole life (it was invented in 1946 by Bell Labs scientist Miles Sullivan). But have you ever wondered how they work? Apparently, even Einstein was stumped, but here, Bill Hammack does a beautiful job breaking down the thermodynamic principles that make it bob back and forth.
Discussion
3 Thoughts on "An Unlikely Engineering Masterpiece"
Really — no comments yet? Well, how about this one: This made my day. Thanks.
How about running a video on the mechanics of the Slinky? Remember that marvelous toy, which is still sold in Cracker Barrel restaurant shops? It was invented and manufactured in Hollidaysburg, PA, where my wife lived for many years.
I guess this proves I’m not an engineer (already a known fact), for while watching this long technical explanation, my mind was actually occupied thinking of the person who conceived it and the long process that must have occurred from having this (insane?) idea to actually making it work. I suspect that would be the best part of the story.