The surprising trick for opening a bottle of wine using physics without a corkscrew

Opening a bottle of wine without a corkscrew might seem like one of those situations doomed to fail, especially when the mood is festive and everyone’s eager to raise a glass. And yet, that’s not the case. Proof that an unexpected situation can turn into a fascinating experience comes from Vincenzo Schettini, who, in a video that went viral, explains how to open a bottle using only everyday objects and, of course, the laws of physics.

The scene couldn’t be more familiar: the bottle is ready, friends have gathered, and there’s no corkscrew in sight. That’s where physics comes into play. The professor encourages everyone not to get discouraged and to take a close look at what’s at hand. You’ll need a sharp, thin, pointed knife, a fork, and, if necessary, even a pot or pan to make certain steps of the process easier.

The first step is to push the tip of the knife directly into the cork. The motion should not be forceful, but precise: small, sharp taps allow the blade to penetrate the cork. This is where a key concept in physics comes into play: impulsive forces—that is, intense forces applied for a very short time, capable of producing a significant effect on the system.

If the cork resists, you can help by tapping it lightly with a frying pan, always with caution. Once the knife is firmly embedded in the cork, move on to the second step: inserting the fork.

The fork must be inserted perpendicular to the knife, so as to create a sort of rigid structure directly connected to the cork. At this stage, another fundamental concept comes into play: rotation. With one hand, hold the knife-and-fork assembly firmly, using your own body as a fulcrum, while with the other hand slowly rotate the bottle.

The hand holding the utensils exerts a reaction force (or constraint force), preventing the system from moving freely. The hand rotating the bottle, on the other hand, transfers energy to the cork. If the applied force is sufficient, you can overcome the static friction that keeps the cork stuck in the bottle’s neck.

The moment the cork begins to move, the nature of the friction changes to dynamic friction, which is weaker than static friction. This transition is crucial: once the rotational motion has begun, removing the cork becomes much easier. By continuing to rotate the bottle and gradually lifting the knife and fork, the cork begins to come out with surprising ease.

The end result has something magical about it, but behind it all lies nothing more than cleverly applied physics. It’s no coincidence that the enthusiastic professor makes no secret of his amazement at such an effective and ingenious method, even joking that from now on he’d like to be the one to open all the bottles.