I need help with a science experiment... it's a puzzle. Read inside for more info.?

Question

You have 4 items:
1. A slice of a lemon
2. 3 matches
3. a cup
4. a saucer full of water

You have to get all of the water from the saucer into the cup (within 10 seconds) without pouring the water into the cup, without scooping with the lemon, without sponging with the lemon, and without slurping the water. Please help me!

Answer 1

Stick two matches into the lemon wedge, place the wedge in the center of the saucer. Light the two matches with the third match and quickly place the cup upside-down over the lemon wedge, centered on the saucer. The two matches will burn the oxygen out of the inside of the cup creating a vacuum which will suck the water from the saucer into the upside-down cup through the tiny spaces between the rim of the cup and the surface of the saucer.

Answer 2

The only thing I can think of is to use air pressure.

Stick a couple matches in the lemon so that you can set the lemon on the saucer and the match heads are sticking up. Light the matches and put the cup up-side-down on the saucer.

What SHOULD happen is that the air inside the saucer will heat up and expand, bubbling out in the water. Then (probably after the matches go out) as the air inside the cup cools, the pressure will drop and outside air will force most of the water in the saucer into the cup.

This might not work because if there isn't enough water in the saucer, it'll get all the water and then suck in air, which will equalize the pressure and all the water will spew back out. Likewise, it relies on the cup sitting flat on the saucer. Still, it's worth a try!

Hope that helps!

Answer 3

Its a bartending trick. You put the the matches into the lemon wedge; placing it peel down into the saucer and light the matches at once; while they're still burning you place the glass over the burning lemon, flat into the saucer, where the lack of air will cause a vacuum that lifts the water into the glass. If you do this quickly, and correctly, you can flip the glass open side up but with all of the water from the saucer.

Answer 4

is it a trick question? cuz it doesn't say "only using these items". it just says you have 4 items.. but what if u use your hands and scoop the water in the cup? or u have to use the matches and lemon for something??

Answer 5

You don't need the lemon, although you could use it to hold the matches. Hold the matches in one hand, parallel to each other, over the cup, and pour the water onto the matches.