The "Drinking Bird" (also called the Dippy Bird, Happy Bird, Happy Dippy Bird or the Dunking Bird) is an iconic desk toy that is a popular novelty item or toy in the U.S. and other countries.
High School Energy said that for more than 50 years, this fascinating little science toy has captivated both young and old.
How Does The Drinking Bird Work?
You might be wondering how the Drinking Bird can "drink" water indefinitely (or if it ever gets tired of doing so).
Fortunately, Popular Mechanics discussed the mechanism behind the Dippy Bird.
"At its core, the Drinking Bird is a heat engine, not that unlike a steam turbine or diesel engine. When the bird's head dips in the water, it gets wet. When the water evaporates, the bird's head cools. This temperature change in turn changes the internal pressure of the bird's vacuum sealed body, and the movement of the gasses and liquids inside propel the bird's motion."
To be more specific, the liquid inside the abdomen of the Drinking Bird is called "Methylene chloride". According to howstuffworks.com, Methylene chloride helps makes a Dippy Bird work since it evaporates quickly and boils at only 100 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius).
Well, this might be too much detailed (and wordy) explanation, but the unrivaled "Engineer Guy", who by the way has 1.2 million Youtube subscribers as of the first quarter of 2022, walks you through the making of a Drinking Bird:
Frequently Asked Questions About the Drinking Bird
How long does a Drinking Bird can "drink" water?
- A Drinking Bird rocks back and forth as if it were drinking from a water vessel. It will keep going as long as there is water available.
How can you get a Drinking Bird to "drink"?
- According to howstuffworks.com, you simply wet the head of a Drinking Bird to get it started. The fluid's movement will take care of the rest.
Is a Drinking Bird a machine in endless motion?
- A Drinking Bird cannot be a perpetual motion machine because the motion will only last as long as there's water to cause the bird to move.
How Popular Is The Drinking Bird?
The Drinking Bird, as per High School Energy, is not only entertaining but educational as well. In fact, Drinking Birds can be seen in many scientific museums and classrooms.
The Drinking Bird even made an appearance in a 1995 episode of The Simpsons, when Homer placed a Drinking Bird in front of his keyboard to help monitor the controls at the Springfield nuclear power station.
Daniel Reynolds, an artist, spent some of his money and several years building an art exhibit consisting of a whole flock of huge 6 and half feet tall Drinking Birds. To work effectively, they needed to be produced using a special vacuum attachment.
Drinking Birds come in a variety of styles and sizes.
