The Sci Guys: Science at Home - SE2 - EP2: Air Pressure Can Crush - Can Implosions

Summary

In this episode of 'Psy Guys,' Ryan and Adam demonstrate a fascinating experiment that uses air pressure to crush cans. They explain how heating water inside a can causes it to transform into water vapor, increasing the pressure inside. When the can is quickly submerged in cold water, the vapor condenses, drastically reducing the internal pressure and causing the atmospheric pressure to crush the can. The video includes a step-by-step guide, safety tips, and encourages viewers to try the experiment at home, sharing their results online.

Takeaways

• 🧑‍🔬 The episode features an experiment demonstrating how to crush a can using air pressure.
• ⚗️ Key materials needed include an empty can, water, a large bowl, tongs, a stovetop, and safety gear such as goggles, heat-resistant gloves, and a lab coat.
• 🔥 The experiment involves heating the can with 100 milliliters of water until it produces water vapor.
• 💧 After heating, the can is quickly dunked upside down into cold water, which creates a rapid change in pressure.
• 🌡️ Heating the can adds energy to the liquid water, converting it to water vapor, which increases the pressure inside the can.
• 🧊 When placed in cold water, the water vapor condenses back into liquid, drastically lowering the pressure inside the can.
• ⚖️ The outside atmospheric pressure, being much higher than inside the can, causes the can to collapse or crush.
• 💥 The violent collapse of the can is due to the imbalance of pressure inside and outside the can, seeking equilibrium.
• 👍 The hosts encourage viewers to try the experiment at home and share their results on social media, with parental permission.
• 🔬 The episode ends with a reminder to always practice safety and wear proper protective equipment during experiments.

Q & A

What is the purpose of the can-crushing experiment?

The purpose of the experiment is to demonstrate the effects of air pressure and how changes in temperature and states of matter can cause a can to collapse.

What materials and equipment are required for the experiment?

You will need an empty can, a large bowl, a set of tongs, water, a stovetop, goggles, heat-resistant gloves, an apron, and a lab coat.

Why is it important to wear safety equipment during this experiment?

Safety equipment such as goggles, gloves, and a lab coat protect you from burns, spills, and splashes since the experiment involves boiling water.

What is the role of air pressure in this experiment?

Air pressure is the force exerted by gas particles on their container. The experiment demonstrates how pressure differences between the inside and outside of the can lead to its collapse.

What happens to the water inside the can when it's heated?

When heated, the water inside the can turns into water vapor (gas), which increases the pressure inside the can as the vapor presses against the sides.

Why does the can collapse when placed in cold water?

The sudden cooling of the can condenses the water vapor inside, creating a vacuum. The atmospheric pressure outside the can becomes much higher than the pressure inside, causing the can to collapse.

What is the relationship between temperature and pressure in this experiment?

As temperature increases, the water in the can turns into vapor, increasing the pressure inside. When the can is rapidly cooled, the pressure inside drops as the vapor condenses, leading to a collapse due to the higher external atmospheric pressure.

What state change occurs inside the can during the experiment?

The water changes from a liquid to a gas (water vapor) when heated, and back to a liquid when cooled rapidly in the cold water.

Why does the pressure inside the can decrease when it is submerged in cold water?

The water vapor inside the can condenses into liquid water, which takes up less space and exerts much less pressure, leading to a pressure drop.

What lesson about pressure equilibrium can be learned from this experiment?

The experiment shows that nature seeks pressure equilibrium, meaning that pressure differences between two areas, such as inside and outside the can, will balance out, often resulting in a physical change like the can collapsing.