T O P

  • By -

solateor

[Album](https://imgur.com/a/oUjwwjU) The salient bits from wikipedia > A Pythagorean cup is a practical joke device in a form of a drinking cup, credited to Pythagoras of Samos and looks like a normal drinking cup, except that the bowl has a central column in it. > > When the cup is filled, liquid rises through the second pipe up to the chamber at the top of the central column, following Pascal's principle of communicating vessels. As long as the level of the liquid does not rise beyond the level of the chamber, the cup functions as normal. > > If the level rises further, however, the liquid spills through the chamber into the first pipe and out of the bottom. Gravity then creates a siphon through the central column, causing the entire contents of the cup to be emptied through the hole at the bottom of the stem. Wiki has toilet subsection https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pythagorean_cup#Toilets >Most modern flush toilets operate on the same principle: when the water level in the bowl rises high enough, a siphon is created, emptying the bowl. Video:@SteveMould


fuishaltiena

American toilets use this type of siphon. European ones use gravity, no siphon there.


Welcome_to_Retrograd

What do you mean by no siphon, the s bend always acts as one no matter how tall or short


fuishaltiena

Siphon sucks water from lower level up to a higher level, like you see in Steve's video. There's no siphon in European toilets, there's just a slight bend to keep a water plug in the pipe. The purpose is to keep the sewage smells from coming back up. It's similar to piping under your kitchen sink, this https://i.imgur.com/4Xb98ER.jpeg has no siphon effect.


barmpmcbarmp

The syphon is in the cistern tank on a lot of older style european toilets. Newer models not so often


thisisfreakinstupid

Hark! Looketh upon thy loins for thou hast spilleth thine beverage upon thyself!


7_25_2018

“Demetrius, thoust hath soiled thine own tunic!”


CatsEatGrass

I heard this with a lisp.


liamkohwil

Pray, might thou ligma balls, fellow? I have obtained thee in thy shame


Small-Palpitation310

I always wanted to know how they talked in Ancient Greece


chechifromCHI

Every part of me is trying not to say "in ancient Greek!" But yeah these guys were fascinating, at least in America we associate Pythagoras with math. But the guy seems like a bro when you read about him. A show off, maybe kind of an ass. I want to know what an ancient Greek roasting among buddies was like. Was there a chorus? Did guys like Pythagoras travel with an entourage?


RJWeaver

I have a vewy gweat fwiend in Wome called Biggus Dickus


Dockle

Does it have to be in the middle like that? Or can it be built into the side so it just looks more like a thick cup and not a dingus cup?


methreethatis

If you put it in one side you might trigger it by just tipping the cup to the wrong direction. If it is in the middle it will not happen by accident..


Mental_Tea_4084

Finally a real answer. Thank you


SaintsSooners89

Did you watch the video?  The second example with cut-away view? Where's the hole... on the side.  You're right it could spill through if tipped to the correct side but that's easily resolved by putting on same side as a handle.


DoubleAholeTwice

Are you trying to tell me I cannot drink from the side where the handle is, because i have just proven you wrong!


[deleted]

[удалено]


fuishaltiena

No, it's exactly like the 2D model.


Possible_Sun_913

I dont know if the mathematician was thinking about the specifics of how it might look on your coffee table, give or take, 2300 years later when proving the principle though design. They are are sold as close the the original designs as possible for this historical reason.


Dockle

Not saying it’s bad! I would still take the dingus cup. I’m just thinking in modern society it might be easier to fool someone if it was in like a mug handle or something.


Possible_Sun_913

Wouldnt be a pythagorean cup then. ;-) There are similar joke cups that you simply hold your finger over a hidden hole (like a puzzle jug). [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pythagorean\_cup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pythagorean_cup) There's a cross section so you can see how it works.


No-Hornet-7847

Did Pythagoras specify that for a cup to be his the siphoning element must be built into a center column? Seems like if the principle is the same, building the siphon into the mug handle would absolutely still be a pythagorean cup.


Possible_Sun_913

He would have, yes. Otherwise that's not how the math behind the pressure and surface tension would work. If you put it all into the stem it would just drain straight through and out the bottom right away. You could possibly build it into a very thick rimmed cup instead, but that might also look a bit weirder, and hiding the overhang/drainage hole might be more challanging. Especially from pottery designs/ability from the time. I'm sure you could hide one into the handle on a modern plastic mug though. As the handle has the right height for it. You'd just see the hole if you looked in.


Phage0070

You can, but I suspect it was easier to make that way with the pottery skills of the time.


roehnin

I imagine you could build a mug with the siphon in the handle, with the added benefit of spilling it on the user's arm rather than on the table.


Dockle

This is the way


AggressiveGift7542

Fun fact. This technique is being used in toilet


Islandfiddler15

The moment I heard “I made a 2d version” I knew it was Steve Mould


King_Krong

I’ll just drink from the bottom of the cup. Problem solved.


voxelghost

Did you just invent the wine-bong?


existentialg

And this is how toilets work


wombawumpa

they don't empty all the water though


existentialg

Neither does the cup, there will always be a small amount of liquid left in the container.


wombawumpa

In the flat/transparent view, all the liquid is drained


existentialg

[Does that look like there’s no liquid left inside?](https://i.imgur.com/hMZQgm2.jpg)


whitin4_

You see how the hole at the bottom of the main chamber in the 2D version is *right* at the very bottom? If it entered the siphon higher up somewhere on the left-hand side, you'd be left a pool of water at the bottom


good_from_afar

It does. Your toilet just immediately refills the bowl so it appears the water doesnt fully drain. Any water that is not already in the bowl once it overflows will not flush.


Pk_Devill_2

This principle is used by the Roman’s to transport water up a hill. Only thing you need to do is build the receiving end a little lower then the giving side.


PM_me_your_dreams___

Yeah, to get water up a hill you just need to start with it higher than the hill.


Hakim_Bey

Steve Mould is amazing. He then used the 2D version of the pythagoras cup to make some sort of analog computer that does binary computation with water and it was crazy as fuuuuuck


acturnipman

At first I was like "so fucking what, it's a cup with a hole in it," and then I realized it was a cup with a FANCY hole in it, which changed everything


burnswhenipoo

Love your explanation


BloodyRightToe

There is one of those in everyone's bathroom.


big_steve_2zz

Or be greedy then put your mouth underneath.


Seahawks1991

What am I watching?


Life-Crew4730

This is like the millionth time this cup is being mentioned here


spaghoot21

Me when I just pour myself another glass


[deleted]

[удалено]


kitsune001

Bizarre, like an AI comment or something


More_Suggestion_2425

Much wants more and loses all.


Here4thaSnx

isnt that how they shotgunned wine back in the day? to make sure it is full before commencing


Pineapple_in_da_tree

Math flashbacks kicking in.


W0tzup

I ~~like~~ hate it! Another!


Carthicc69

This is how my bong works


WisdomWangle

Our math teacher showed us this like 7 years ago


pichael289

Toilet cup


quilldeea

dumb way to throw out good $hit. Better let others drink it if you don't want to


Apprehensive-Band-89

Whythagoras?


Responsible_Big_1349

Works like a Stabil bottle.


flfoiuij2

Some other guy had a much better way of showing how it works. Instead of making the model, he just cut the cup in half.


Bionicjoker14

This is the first time I’ve actually seen a physical cup like this. Every time I’ve seen this concept, it’s been a cgi render


cdubb427

Now this but for money


MileHiSalute

Hey that’s how we get rid of poop too


Grand-Date4504

Oh... So this is how a flush works huh


scottygroundhog22

I dont need a cup that pees. I can do that myself


bernpfenn

why isnt that a toilet flushing technique without rubber seals


katamazeballz

The ceramic glaze is a bit crumbly but pretty


Overall-Guarantee331

Close the bottom it becomes Pythagoras bottle


mnij2015

Oh look a toilet


[deleted]

Why


dsun28

Soxhlet Extraction


BusyBeeInYourBonnet

Same principle toilets are designed under.


QuickAd9263

Greedy >:(


SirGravesGhastly

As Will Smith said in ID4: "I have got to get me one of THESE!" Actually a few, for gag gifts.


elromonlada

This is something my bro needs


Ewad_Cloudwalker

This is how the dispenser on your front load washing machine works


StevieGreenwood420

Capillary action … in action


KakaW33W33

Lo’ and behold! A toilet.


DctrSqr

The science works with poops, too!


Lilcommy

I swear all my whiskey tumblers have this because none of them stay full.


NumberOneGeek

I forgot about these! How cool