As everyone knows, there is no perpetual motion machine in this world. But ancient Chinese had invented a kind of machine, or rather, invented a toy. The toy was named as “Drinking Bird”. It’s one of magical China inventions. And it is very interesting.

Someone once gave it to Einstein, and said to him: “The scientist says the Perpetual Motion Machine is impossible, let you look at this Perpetual Motion Machine of China now.” Einstein was surprised to the design of the Drinking Bird after he knew its principle. So the toy was known as “The toy that made Einstein surprised”.

The magical place of the toy is: The bird will stoop down and soaks the mouth into water when you apply a little water on the beak of the Drinking Bird. It stands upright again after drinking. And then it will repeat the action ceaseless. Really wondrous!

Certainly the toy isn’t a Perpetual Motion Machine, but it just like a Perpetual Motion Machine. I explain its physics principle: The internal liquid of Drinking Bird is ether (the liquid apt to volatilize). Its head becomes cold when you apply a little water on the beak of the Drinking Bird, cause the atmospheric pressure drops, the liquid of the tail rises along the pipe because of the suction. In this way the weight of the head is increasing, the weight of the tail is being lightened. Drinking Bird will stoop down to drink water; the ether will volatilizes and absorbs the heat of the air when Drinking Bird mouth is soaked in water. The temperature of the ether steam will rise, lead to the atmospheric pressure of head increases, besides, because of the weight of the liquid, the liquid of the head will flow into the tail under. And then the steam evaporation causes the head to become cold again.

It’s very amusing! Do not you think so?

I will collect more interesting Chinese inventions in the future!