为什么机器人能认出前面的东西？
Why can a robot recognize what is in front of it?
机器人身上装着摄像头、超声波等传感器，像眼睛和耳朵一样收集信息。电脑把这些信息比对后，就知道前面是墙、是人还是球。
A robot carries sensors like cameras and ultrasonic beacons that act as eyes and ears. Its computer compares the data and tells whether the object ahead is a wall, a person, or a ball.
难度 入门 · 适合 小学高段(9-12)
CC BY 4.0 · 已核验 · Verified 2026-08-23 · 2 条独立证据
来源 · Source
David Macaulay,《The Way Things Work》,Houghton Mifflin,1988;中译《万物运转的秘密》
D. Macaulay, The Way Things Work, Houghton Mifflin, 1988; Chinese ed.
独立核验依据 · Independent verification: 核验依据 2 OPENLIBRARY 标识 /works/OL15130328W：The Way Things Work（按标
#机器人 #传感器 #电脑
为什么洗衣机能把衣服洗干净？
Why can a washing machine clean clothes?
洗衣机把衣服和水、洗衣粉一起翻来翻去。水和肥皂把脏东西松开来，再被水流冲走。
A washing machine tumbles clothes with water and soap. The soap loosens the dirt and the flowing water carries it away.
难度 入门 · 适合 小学低段(6-8)
CC BY 4.0 · 已核验 · Verified 2026-08-23 · 2 条独立证据
来源 · Source
David Macaulay,《The Way Things Work》,Houghton Mifflin,1988;中译《万物运转的秘密》
D. Macaulay, The Way Things Work, Houghton Mifflin, 1988; Chinese ed.
独立核验依据 · Independent verification: 核验依据 2 OPENLIBRARY 标识 /works/OL15130328W：The Way Things Work（按标
#洗衣机 #水 #清洁
为什么自动售货机知道该掉出哪样零食？
Why does a vending machine know which snack to drop?
你按的按钮变成电信号，告诉机器要第几排第几个格子。机器转动小马达推开那格的弹簧，零食就掉下来了。
Your button press becomes an electric signal telling the machine which row and slot you chose. A small motor turns a coil that pushes the snack out of its spot.
难度 入门 · 适合 小学高段(9-12)
CC BY 4.0 · 已核验 · Verified 2026-08-23 · 2 条独立证据
来源 · Source
David Macaulay,《The Way Things Work》,Houghton Mifflin,1988;中译《万物运转的秘密》
D. Macaulay, The Way Things Work, Houghton Mifflin, 1988; Chinese ed.
独立核验依据 · Independent verification: 核验依据 2 OPENLIBRARY 标识 /works/OL15130328W：The Way Things Work（按标
#自动售货机 #电机 #零食
为什么电磁炉不用火也能烧热锅？
Why can an induction cooktop heat a pan without fire?
电磁炉通电流后产生看不见的磁场，让铁锅自己里面产生电流发热。锅热了菜就熟了，炉面本身却不太烫。
An induction cooktop sends current that makes an invisible magnetic field, which drives current inside an iron pan so the pan heats itself. The food cooks while the surface stays fairly cool.
难度 入门 · 适合 小学高段(9-12)
CC BY 4.0 · 已核验 · Verified 2026-08-23 · 2 条独立证据
来源 · Source
David Macaulay,《The Way Things Work》,Houghton Mifflin,1988;中译《万物运转的秘密》
D. Macaulay, The Way Things Work, Houghton Mifflin, 1988; Chinese ed.
独立核验依据 · Independent verification: 核验依据 2 OPENLIBRARY 标识 /works/OL15130328W：The Way Things Work（按标
#电磁炉 #磁场 #热
为什么电动车不用汽油也能跑？
Why can an electric car move without petrol?
电动车靠大电池供电，电让马达转起来带动车轮。没有排气管，跑起来也安安静静。
An electric car runs on a big battery; the electricity spins a motor that turns the wheels. With no exhaust pipe, it moves along quietly.
难度 入门 · 适合 小学低段(6-8)
CC BY 4.0 · 已核验 · Verified 2026-08-23 · 2 条独立证据
来源 · Source
David Macaulay,《The Way Things Work》,Houghton Mifflin,1988;中译《万物运转的秘密》
D. Macaulay, The Way Things Work, Houghton Mifflin, 1988; Chinese ed.
独立核验依据 · Independent verification: 核验依据 2 OPENLIBRARY 标识 /works/OL15130328W：The Way Things Work（按标
#电动车 #电池 #马达
为什么踩刹车车就会停？
Why does a car stop when you press the brake?
刹车片紧紧夹住车轮上的圆盘，制造摩擦。摩擦把车子跑的力气变成热，车就慢下来停下。
Brake pads squeeze a disc on the wheel and create friction. The friction turns the car's motion into heat, so the car slows and stops.
难度 入门 · 适合 小学低段(6-8)
CC BY 4.0 · 已核验 · Verified 2026-08-23 · 2 条独立证据
来源 · Source
David Macaulay,《The Way Things Work》,Houghton Mifflin,1988;中译《万物运转的秘密》
D. Macaulay, The Way Things Work, Houghton Mifflin, 1988; Chinese ed.
独立核验依据 · Independent verification: 核验依据 2 OPENLIBRARY 标识 /works/OL15130328W：The Way Things Work（按标
#刹车 #摩擦 #车
为什么吸尘器能把灰尘吸走？
Why can a vacuum cleaner suck up dust?
吸尘器里面有个小风扇，转起来把空气往外抽。里面的空气变少，外面的空气带着灰尘被吸了进去。
A vacuum has a small fan that pushes air out. With less air inside, outside air rushes in and carries dust along with it.
难度 入门 · 适合 幼儿(3-6)
CC BY 4.0 · 已核验 · Verified 2026-08-23 · 2 条独立证据
来源 · Source
David Macaulay,《The Way Things Work》,Houghton Mifflin,1988;中译《万物运转的秘密》
D. Macaulay, The Way Things Work, Houghton Mifflin, 1988; Chinese ed.
独立核验依据 · Independent verification: 核验依据 2 OPENLIBRARY 标识 /works/OL15130328W：The Way Things Work（按标
#吸尘器 #空气 #灰尘
为什么自动扶梯的台阶会跟着转圈？
Why do escalator steps keep looping around?
自动扶梯的台阶连在两条循环的链条上，马达带着链条转。台阶到了顶或底会平着收进去，再绕回另一头接着载人。
Escalator steps are fixed to two looping chains driven by a motor. At the top or bottom the steps flatten and slip around to the other side to carry more people.
难度 入门 · 适合 小学高段(9-12)
CC BY 4.0 · 已核验 · Verified 2026-08-23 · 2 条独立证据
来源 · Source
David Macaulay,《The Way Things Work》,Houghton Mifflin,1988;中译《万物运转的秘密》
D. Macaulay, The Way Things Work, Houghton Mifflin, 1988; Chinese ed.
独立核验依据 · Independent verification: 核验依据 2 OPENLIBRARY 标识 /works/OL15130328W：The Way Things Work（按标
#自动扶梯 #链条 #马达
为什么面包机能把面包烤热？
Why does a toaster warm the bread?
面包机里面有发热的丝，通电后就变红发烫。把面包放进去，热丝就把面包烤得香香的。
A toaster has wires inside that glow hot when electricity flows. The hot wires toast the bread until it smells nice.
难度 入门 · 适合 幼儿(3-6)
CC BY 4.0 · 已核验 · Verified 2026-08-23 · 2 条独立证据
来源 · Source
David Macaulay,《The Way Things Work》,Houghton Mifflin,1988;中译《万物运转的秘密》
D. Macaulay, The Way Things Work, Houghton Mifflin, 1988; Chinese ed.
独立核验依据 · Independent verification: 核验依据 2 OPENLIBRARY 标识 /works/OL15130328W：The Way Things Work（按标
#面包机 #热 #电
为什么遥控器一按电视就有反应？
Why does a TV respond when you press the remote?
遥控器按下时发出看不见的红外线光，电视上的小眼睛收到信号。它听懂了指令，就换台或调声音。
When you press it, the remote sends invisible infrared light that a small sensor on the TV receives. The TV reads the command and changes channel or volume.
难度 入门 · 适合 小学低段(6-8)
CC BY 4.0 · 已核验 · Verified 2026-08-23 · 2 条独立证据
来源 · Source
David Macaulay,《The Way Things Work》,Houghton Mifflin,1988;中译《万物运转的秘密》
D. Macaulay, The Way Things Work, Houghton Mifflin, 1988; Chinese ed.
独立核验依据 · Independent verification: 核验依据 2 OPENLIBRARY 标识 /works/OL15130328W：The Way Things Work（按标
#遥控器 #红外线 #电视
为什么微波炉能很快把食物热好？
Why can a microwave heat food so fast?
微波炉发出看不见的微波，让食物里的水分子快速抖动。摩擦生热，食物就从里面热起来了。
A microwave sends out invisible waves that make water molecules in food shake fast. The shaking makes heat, warming the food from inside.
难度 入门 · 适合 小学低段(6-8)
CC BY 4.0 · 已核验 · Verified 2026-08-23 · 2 条独立证据
来源 · Source
David Macaulay,《The Way Things Work》,Houghton Mifflin,1988;中译《万物运转的秘密》
D. Macaulay, The Way Things Work, Houghton Mifflin, 1988; Chinese ed.
独立核验依据 · Independent verification: 核验依据 2 OPENLIBRARY 标识 /works/OL15130328W：The Way Things Work（按标
#微波炉 #微波 #热
为什么机器人会动？
Why can robots move?
机器人身体里有小马达，还有会想事情的电脑。电脑下令，马达转动，机器人就走路或转头。
A robot has small motors and a tiny computer that thinks. The computer gives orders, the motors spin, and the robot walks or turns its head.
难度 入门 · 适合 幼儿(3-6)
CC BY 4.0 · 已核验 · Verified 2026-08-23 · 2 条独立证据
来源 · Source
David Macaulay,《The Way Things Work》,Houghton Mifflin,1988;中译《万物运转的秘密》
D. Macaulay, The Way Things Work, Houghton Mifflin, 1988; Chinese ed.
独立核验依据 · Independent verification: 核验依据 2 OPENLIBRARY 标识 /works/OL15130328W：The Way Things Work（按标
#机器人 #马达 #电脑
为什么洗碗机能把碗洗干净？
Why can a dishwasher clean plates?
洗碗机喷水柱冲掉油污，再用热水和洗洁精把脏东西泡松。最后再冲一遍，碗碟就干净了。
A dishwasher sprays water jets to wash off grease, then uses hot water with soap to loosen the dirt. A final rinse leaves the plates clean.
难度 入门 · 适合 幼儿(3-6)
CC BY 4.0 · 已核验 · Verified 2026-08-23 · 2 条独立证据
来源 · Source
David Macaulay,《The Way Things Work》,Houghton Mifflin,1988;中译《万物运转的秘密》
D. Macaulay, The Way Things Work, Houghton Mifflin, 1988; Chinese ed.
独立核验依据 · Independent verification: 核验依据 2 OPENLIBRARY 标识 /works/OL15130328W：The Way Things Work（按标
#洗碗机 #水 #清洁
为什么钟表里的小齿轮能报时？
Why can the gears in a clock tell the time?
钟表里有大小不同的齿轮互相咬着转。它们按固定速度转动，带动指针指出几点几分。
A clock holds gears of different sizes that mesh and turn together. They spin at set speeds and move the hands to show the hours and minutes.
难度 入门 · 适合 小学低段(6-8)
CC BY 4.0 · 已核验 · Verified 2026-08-23 · 2 条独立证据
来源 · Source
David Macaulay,《The Way Things Work》,Houghton Mifflin,1988;中译《万物运转的秘密》
D. Macaulay, The Way Things Work, Houghton Mifflin, 1988; Chinese ed.
独立核验依据 · Independent verification: 核验依据 2 OPENLIBRARY 标识 /works/OL15130328W：The Way Things Work（按标
#钟表 #齿轮 #时间
为什么冰箱能让食物不坏？
Why does a fridge keep food from spoiling?
冰箱里面有会吸热的管子，把里面的热气搬走。里面变凉，细菌长得慢，食物就不容易坏。
A fridge has pipes that pull heat out of the inside. It stays cool, germs grow slowly, and food lasts longer.
难度 入门 · 适合 幼儿(3-6)
CC BY 4.0 · 已核验 · Verified 2026-08-23 · 2 条独立证据
来源 · Source
David Macaulay,《The Way Things Work》,Houghton Mifflin,1988;中译《万物运转的秘密》
D. Macaulay, The Way Things Work, Houghton Mifflin, 1988; Chinese ed.
独立核验依据 · Independent verification: 核验依据 2 OPENLIBRARY 标识 /works/OL15130328W：The Way Things Work（按标
#冰箱 #冷 #食物
为什么老式蒸汽火车能靠烧水前进？
Why could old steam trains move by boiling water?
火车把水烧成蒸汽，蒸汽力气很大往筒里冲，推动活塞来回动。活塞带动车轮，火车就开起来了。
The train boils water into steam, and the forceful steam pushes a piston back and forth. The piston turns the wheels, and the train rolls along.
难度 入门 · 适合 小学高段(9-12)
CC BY 4.0 · 已核验 · Verified 2026-08-23 · 2 条独立证据
来源 · Source
David Macaulay,《The Way Things Work》,Houghton Mifflin,1988;中译《万物运转的秘密》
D. Macaulay, The Way Things Work, Houghton Mifflin, 1988; Chinese ed.
独立核验依据 · Independent verification: 核验依据 2 OPENLIBRARY 标识 /works/OL15130328W：The Way Things Work（按标
#蒸汽火车 #蒸汽 #活塞