Crush the Can with Boiled Water
Equipment: A hot plate, water and a tin quart sized can with a screw cap.
What it does: The water in the can is boiled to displace the air and the cap is screwed on. When the water vapor condenses, the can is crushed.
Concepts Demonstrated: Air pressure.
Classroom assembly:
- Fill the can approximately 75% full of water.
- Place the can on the hot plate.
- Turn the hot plate on to high. Wait for the water to come to a full boil.
- Turn off the hot plate and screw the cap back on the can.
- Wait for the can to cool. When the water vapor condenses, the can will crush.
Cautions: Do not burn yourself on the hot plate, the can or the boiling water.
Setup Time: Short.
Difficulty: Straightforward.
Visibility: High. This demonstration is appropriate for large lecture halls.
Related demonstrations:
References: PIRA 2B30.10
Original Construction: Purchased.
Disclaimer: All demonstrations are posted for the convenience and benefit of faculty and staff in the Department of Physics at Simon Fraser University and are not intended for outside use. The author(s) assume no responsibility or liability for the use of information contained on this site. Warnings and precautionary measures listed on this site assume normal operation of equipment and are not inclusive. Demonstrations may pose a significant hazard and can, in some instances, result in death; reasonable safety precautions must be taken. Demonstrations should be performed by qualified individuals only.
Prepared by Jeff Rudd, 1999
Revised by Laura Schmidt, 2007