Can-Crushing Experiment
If a few cubic centimeters of water is poured into such a can (just enough to cover the bottom) and the can is held above a laboratory burner for about 30 seconds, the water can be brought to the boiling point where its vapor pressure is equal to atmospheric pressure. The vapor will then push most of the air out of the can. If the can is quickly inverted into a beaker of water, sealing off the opening, the sudden drop in vapor pressure will result in enough net inward pressure to quickly crush the can. |
Index Atmospheric pressure demos Pressure concepts | ||
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