Code Number: 2B30.15
Demo Title: Crush The Soda Can
Condition: Excellent
Principle: Air Pressure, Crush Pressure
Area of Study: Fluids
Equipment:
Soda Cans, Boiling Water, Hot Plate, Tongs, and Pan with 1 Inch of Cold Water in it.
Procedure:
Put 20 ml of water into a pop can and put it onto the hot plate. Let the water come to a boil and continue for 2 minutes. Quickly take the can off the hot plate with the tongs and invert into the cold water. The can should collapse dramatically. 1-gallon and 5-gallon cans can also be collapsed in this manner.
References:
- Hewitt, "Figuring Physics, TPT, Vol. 60, #2, Feb. 2022, p. 136.
- Hewitt, "Figuring Physics", TPT, Vol. 51, # 1, Jan. 2013, p. 8.
- Anonymous, "Figuring Physics-Whopped Can", TPT, Vol. 49, # 2, Feb. 2011, p. 70.
- Pirooz Mohazzabi, "The Physics of the Imploding Can Experiment", TPT, Vol. 48, # 5, May 2010, p. 289.
- Mike Shaw, "'A Golden Oldie': Canned Again", TPT, Vol. 44, # 3, March 2006, p. 184.
- L. M. Gratton and S. Oss, "An Extension of the Imploding Can Demonstration", TPT, Vol. 44, # 5, May 2006, p. 269.
- Ronald Bryan, "Avogadro's Number and the Kinetic Theory of Gases", TPT, Vol. 38, # 2, p. 106, Feb. 2000.
- Mario Iona, "Thermodynamics of Cans", TPT, Vol. 35, # 8, Nov. 1997, p. 452.
- Brian W. Holmes, "Save Those Soda Cans", TPT, Vol. 35, # 5, p. 281, May 1997.
- James E. Stewart, "The Collapsing Can Revisited", TPT, Vol. 29, # 3, p. 144, March 1999.
- James McGahan, "Collapsing Soda Cans and Efficiency", TPT, Vol. 28, # 8, p. 550, November 1990.
- Ron Edge, "Strength and Shape", TPT, Vol. 25, # 1, Jan. 1987, p. 50.
- John G. McCaslin, "Barrels are More Fun Than Beer Cans", TPT, Vol. 21, # 8, Nov. 1983, p. 520.
- Tim Taylor, "The Imploding Beer Can", TPT, Vol. 20, # 7, Oct. 1982, p. 458.
- E. Scott Barr, "Comments On the October Issue", TPT, Vol. 20, # 9, Dec. 1982, p. 578.
- P. B. Visscher, "Simple Student-Repeatable Atmospheric Pressure Demonstration", AJP, Vol. 47, #11, Nov. 1979, p. 1015.
- F- 025: "Collapsing Cans and Drums", DICK and RAE Physics Demo Notebook.
- H- 068: "Balloon in Flask - Collapse Can", DICK and RAE Physics Demo Notebook.
- M - 855: "Stand on Pepsi Can", DICK and RAE Physics Demo Notebook.
- Julien Clinton Sprott, Physics Demonstrations, "2.4, Collapsing Can", p. 74, ISBN 0-299-21580-6.
- "Experiment with a Vacuum", The Boy Scientist, p. 170.
- Shar Levine, Leslie Johnstone, "Pumping Aluminum", Silly Science, Chapter 4, p. 12.
- Bobby Mercer, "Can Crusher", Junk Drawer Chemistry, 2016, p. 191.
- Tik L. Liem, "The Crushing Pop Can", Invitations to Science Inquiry - Supplement to 1st and 2nd Ed. p. 26.
- Borislaw Bilash II, “Crush the Can“, A Demo A Day – A Year of Physical Science Demonstrations, p. 88.
University of Maryland Physics Department QOTW Question #280
University of Maryland Physics Department QOTW Answer #280