Bent Match Problem. "Magical Experiments or Science in Play" by Arthur Good. Philadelphia: David McKay, (1894).
Bend a wooden match in the middle, which will, of course, almost break it through, the two parts being only held together by an uncertain section. Now place it at an acute angle across the mouth of an empty bottle, with a nickel on top.
Ask the spectators how they would set about causing the coin to fall into the bottle, without either touching or breathing on the bent match or nickel. They are not likely to discover a solution without assistance.
Dip your finger in a glass of water and, holding it above the angle of the bent match, allow a few drops to fall upon the broken part. Swollen by the moisture, the fibers of the wood will tend to straighten themselves; and, little by little, you will see the angle of the match growing larger and larger, until, no longer supporting the coin, the latter will fall into the bottle.
Bent Match Problem. "Magical Experiments or Science in Play" by Arthur Good. Philadelphia: David McKay, (1894).
Bend a wooden match in the middle, which will, of course, almost break it through, the two parts being only held together by an uncertain section. Now place it at an acute angle across the mouth of an empty bottle, with a nickel on top.
Ask the spectators how they would set about causing the coin to fall into the bottle, without either touching or breathing on the bent match or nickel. They are not likely to discover a solution without assistance.
Dip your finger in a glass of water and, holding it above the angle of the bent match, allow a few drops to fall upon the broken part. Swollen by the moisture, the fibers of the wood will tend to straighten themselves; and, little by little, you will see the angle of the match growing larger and larger, until, no longer supporting the coin, the latter will fall into the bottle.