Get Your Science On: Can Crush

 In Get Your Science On, Shopcasts and Videos

Last week, we showed you how atmospheric pressure can be used to give a giant “bear hug”. This week, we use atmospheric pressure to crush a metal can.

Water is boiled inside of the can, and this produces water vapor, an invisible gas which displaces the air inside of the can. The can is sealed and cooled, which causes the water vapor to condense into liquid water. This lowers the pressure inside of the can, causing the atmospheric pressure to crush it!

This video features Eva Asheela, a teacher with the Education Ministry in Namibia. This partnership has been made possible by the generous support of B2Gold Namibia. More details about the Little Shop of Physics B2Gold Partnership can be found here.