In 1970， American magician Rick Johnsson theorized that when magic tricks seem too perfect， audiences are less impressed and can easily figure out their secrets.

Researchers at the University of London found viewers preferred “perfect” tricks to flawed ones. But consistent with the theory， viewers had an easier time understanding how these tricks were performed.

Johnsson knew in the 20th century few audiences believed magicians had supernatural powers. They knew there is a rational explanation for magic， and its often science.

Whats the science behind popular magic tricks？ Website ScienceABC reveals their secrets. Lets take a look.

1970年，美國魔術(shù)師瑞克·約翰遜提出了一個理論：魔術(shù)看起來太完美時，觀眾反而沒那么動容了，而且很容易就能破解魔術(shù)的秘密。

英國倫敦大學的研究人員發(fā)現(xiàn)，比起有瑕疵的魔術(shù)，觀眾更喜歡“完美”的魔術(shù)。但與約翰遜的理論一致的是，此時觀眾更容易理解這些魔術(shù)是如何表演的。

約翰遜深知，在20世紀，很少有觀眾相信魔術(shù)師有超自然的力量。他們知道魔術(shù)有一個合理的解釋，那往往就是科學。

廣受歡迎的魔術(shù)背后隱藏著什么科學原理？科學ABC網(wǎng)站揭露了這些魔術(shù)的秘密。我們一起來看看吧。

Levitating objects

空中飄物

A popular trick is making objects levitate， with smaller objects being especially easy to “fly”. To the viewers， the levitating object may seem to defy gravity， but theres a scientific explanation—quantum physics.

Called quantum or magnetic levitation， the trick involves magnets and freezing cold temperatures. Magicians coat an object in a layer of magnetic paint and place it on top of a superconductor cooled by liquid nitrogen. The opposing forces cause the object to float above the superconductor.

一大熱門魔術(shù)是讓物體懸浮，小型物體尤其容易“飛起來”。在觀眾看來，這個懸浮的物體似乎是在對抗重力，但這種現(xiàn)象有一個科學解釋——量子力學。

這種把戲被稱為“量子懸浮”或“磁懸浮”，涉及磁鐵和極低的溫度。魔術(shù)師給某個物體涂上一層磁性涂料，然后把物體放在用液氮冷卻的超導(dǎo)體上。相對的力令物體浮在超導(dǎo)體上方。

Many magicians can make liquids disappear. The explanation is simple—chemistry.

Sodium polyacrylate， also known as “waterlock”， is a chemical compound that can absorb liquids. Its used in everyday products such as baby diapers. Whats magical about this polymer is that it can absorb 100 to 1，000 times its mass in liquid.

When a magician pours water into a cup lined with sodium polyacrylate， the water is quickly absorbed.

許多魔術(shù)師能讓液體消失。這種魔術(shù)的解釋很簡單——化學。

聚丙烯酸鈉，又名“水閘”，是一種能夠吸收液體的化合物，常被應(yīng)用于嬰兒尿不濕等日用品。這種化合物的神奇之處在于，其可吸收自身質(zhì)量100到1 000倍的液體。

魔術(shù)師把水倒進內(nèi)襯有聚丙烯酸鈉的杯子里，水就被飛速吸收了。

Burning paper

紙燃燒

Another interesting trick is when magicians set paper alight， it remains intact. Magicians can even use money in this trick. Theres a scientific explanation—chemistry.

The item is dipped in a mixture of alcohol and water before the trick. When its lit on fire， the alcohol covering the paper begins to burn. Alcohol burns and evaporates at a much lower temperature than water， so the water protects the paper from burning.

還有一個有趣的魔術(shù)：魔術(shù)師把紙點燃，紙卻仍然完好無損。魔術(shù)師甚至可以用錢來變這個魔術(shù)。這種現(xiàn)象有一個科學解釋——化學。

變魔術(shù)前，魔術(shù)師把紙浸入酒精和水的混合物中。紙一旦被點燃，黏附在紙上的酒精就會開始燃燒。酒精燃燒和蒸發(fā)的溫度比水低得多，所以水會起保護作用，紙就不會燃燒。

Word Bank

figure out 弄清楚；弄明白

I cant figure out how to do this.

flawed /fl??d/ adj. 有缺點的；有瑕疵的

consistent /k?n's?st?nt/ adj. 與……一致的；相符的

The results are entirely consistent with our

earlier research.

absorb /?b's??b/ v. 吸收 （液體、氣體等）

alight /?'la?t/ adj. 燃燒著的

evaporate /?'v?p?re?t/ v.（使）蒸發(fā)，揮發(fā)