How to Crush a Can Using Air Pressure
Air may seem like nothing, but don't be fooled--it can exert tremendous pressure. Air pressure is used in industry to push and pull heavy machines parts. In this demonstration, you can use nothing but air pressure to crush a metal can.
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Things You'll Need
- Empty soda can
- Water
- Stove or hot plate
- Tongs
- Shallow metal pan (such as a 9 by 9 cake pan)
- Ice cubes
Instructions
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1
Pour an inch of water into the empty soda can.
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2
Place the can on a stove burner or hot plate and heat the water until it boils. The boiling water will produce steam, which will drive almost all the air out of the can.
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3
While the water is boiling in the can, fill the shallow metal pan with ice cubes, then add water until the pan is full.
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4
After the water in the can has been producing steam for about a minute, use the tongs to pick up the can.
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5
Quickly turn the can upside down and plunge it into the icy water. The sudden drop in temperature will cause the remaining steam in the can to condense into just a few drops of water. Since you just drove the air out of the can (by filling it with steam in step 2) this sudden condensation will effectively create a vacuum inside the can.
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6
Observe the can collapse. There is almost no air inside the can so the air pressure inside is extremely low. The air pressure outside the can is enough to collapse it.
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Tips & Warnings
Follow good safety procedures when working over a stove burner. Make sure students are supervised by an adult.
