How does a drinking straw work?

Question

LET ME REPHRASE THIS:
Why does the drink come up the straw?

Answer 1

Its quite simple and ingenious really.

The straw is a cylinder, with the side of it enclosed, meaning there is only 1 exit and 1 entrance.

When you put the straw in the drink, the liquid goes up into the straw, and sits there. It is when you begin to suck through the straw that the liquid is sucked up through the straw.

The straw creates a vacuum and it sucks everything in the vicinity of the bottom of the straw, and with the powerful sucking of your mouth, sucks everything up though the vacuum, and it comes out the other side.

Its like a manual vacuum cleaner.

Answer 2

When you insert the straw in a glass of coke, you put your lips around the top of the straw. You make an air tight seal with your lips to the straw. Then you suck. when you start sucking it creates a vacume through the straw. that vacume draws the coke up though the straw into your mouth. Thats when you swallow. the remaining coke goes back down the straw because there is no longer a vacume. It waits until you decide to suck again.

Answer 3

Sucking on it creates a partial vacuum, which allows the air pressure to push down on the liquid enough for it to rise in the straw.

Answer 4

There must be an abscence of air for the drink to travel through the straw. When you put your lips around the straw and suck, the abscence of air helps the drink to flow directly.

Answer 5

Here is the steps:
1.you take the straw
2.then you suck
3.then drink comes out its like magic

Answer 6

when u suck on a straw, the force of the suction pulls the liquid up the tube (straw) into your mouth.

Answer 7

you suck air in the straw and at pulls up whatever you are drinking

Answer 8

the air sucks in the liquid

Answer 9

`cause you suck (capillary action); similar to how plants absorb water from the ground.

That's right, you suck.

Answer 10

http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/features/davidmacaulay/straw_mac.shtml