Project

Safety Regulations

Tongs are a MANDATORY tool for this experiment. It will protect the experimentor's hand while they are picking up the can. Be cautious and always watch the stove or hot plate while heating the water in the cans. If children try this experiment, they should have adult super vision.

Can crushing pics!

Introduction to Can crashing

The name of my project is “can crashing.” In the project I am going to use a soda can that has a little bit of water at the bottom, a hot plate, and a bowl of water. I am going to see if the can will crumble when it hits the water. This project represents air pressure. I am going to boil the water while it is in the can. The water inside will boil and this should get some of the air out of the can. Once I see water vapor, I am going to wait between 20-30 seconds and pick it up with tongs so I can put it in the water. When the can is cooled off, the water will condense inside and make the can crush because the pressure outside will be greater than the pressure in the inside. The can should implode as-soon as I put it in water.

Procedure

First, boil the water while it is in the can. The water inside will boil and this should get some of the air out of the can. Once you see water vapor, wait between 20-30 seconds and pick it up with tongs so I can put it in the water. The can should implode as soon as it touches the water in the bowl.