Every spring equinox, tens of millions of people all over the world are doing "vertical egg" experiments. How this toy, called "China Custom", became a "world game" is still difficult to verify. However, the game is simple and interesting: choose a smooth and symmetrical fresh egg that has just been born for four or five days, gently stand it up and put it on the table. Although there are many losers, there are also many winners. The vernal equinox has become the best time for vertical egg games, so there is a saying that when the vernal equinox arrives, the eggs will be beautiful. The eggs that stand up are very beautiful.

The mystery of vertical eggs

Why do eggs stand easily at the vernal equinox? Although there are many sayings, there are many scientific reasons. First of all, the vernal equinox is the same day in the northern and southern hemispheres, which is 66. The 5-degree inclination angle of the earth's axis and the orbital plane of the earth's revolution around the sun are in a state of relative force balance, which is beneficial to vertical eggs. Secondly, the vernal equinox is in the middle of spring, which is lukewarm, colorful, comfortable, quick-thinking, agile and easy to succeed in laying eggs. More importantly, the surface of the egg is uneven and there are many protruding "hills". This mountain is very high. 03 mm or so, and the peak spacing is 0. 5~0。 8 mm According to the principle that three points form a triangle and a plane is determined, as long as you find the triangle formed by three hills and make the center of gravity of the egg pass through this triangle, then the egg can stand upright. In addition, it is best to choose eggs 4 ~ 5 days after birth, because at this time, the yolk of the egg is slack, the yolk sinks, and the center of gravity of the egg drops, which is conducive to the erection of the egg.

Vertical egg not only has many scientific principles, but also contains many rich and profound philosophical thoughts. Columbus, a famous Italian navigator, crossed the vast Atlantic Ocean and discovered the new American continent. Some people think that his discovery is "purely accidental". At a celebration meeting, Columbus suggested that the ladies and gentlemen attending the party try to stand the eggs on the table, but none of them succeeded. Columbus said, watch me perform. He knocked down the egg, the shell broke and the egg stood up. Then he said, I found this. This is really easy, but why don't you?

The well-balanced and smooth curve of an egg is the reason why it is difficult to stand up, and it is also its charm. Leonardo da vinci, a famous European Renaissance painter, spent more than two years forgetting to eat and sleep, and practiced drawing egg curves every day, which laid a solid foundation for his later success in shaping the mysterious smile of Mona Lisa. In China, people call face shape "face shape" and take egg shape as the standard of face beauty, which fully shows the superb aesthetic appreciation level of our people and the aesthetic attributes of egg shape. However, for a long time, people have been unable to find the mathematical expression of the egg-shaped curve, and even mathematicians can only approximate the egg-shaped curve with rulers and compasses. No wonder artists who have painted thousands of egg circles also say that no two are exactly the same. Until modern times, mathematicians found the following mathematical equation of egg curve: x 2/a 2+y 2/(ky+b) 2 = 1, where | k | > 1, and finally solved the problem of drawing egg curve for generations. Today, egg-shaped cars, airships, bridges, tunnels, gymnasiums, concert halls and other buildings can be seen all over the world, which perfectly combine science and culture, science and art, science and aesthetics.