Contact: M. Garlick @(989)686-9272 Last update: 06/07/01
Ever see the Soda Can Crush Demo?
(Major photos included at the end of this Demo are a Must See!!!)
You take a one soda can.
You put a few drops of water in it heat it up till it steams.
(quickly)
Flip the can and immerse the can mouth in cold water in a large bowl.
( Be sure to use tongs or gloves to protect your hands. "safety first" )
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The Can Collaspes... Why?
What is your Hypothesis ( best guess )
What would happen if we scale the reaction up to say use a Railroad tank car for our can?
What is your Hypothesis ( best guess? ) will it be crushed?
We had some workers who didn't understand Physics.
We take a Tank car without a negative pressure relief valve.
We give the crew steam cleaning equipment and tell them to
steam clean our Tank Car. They Did a Great Job!!!
To be perfectly honest, its a mistake most of us including myself could have easily made. Keep your brain in gear, at all times.
I was told the interior of the tank car was washed out & cleaned with steam. Then all the outlet valves were shut and the tank car was sealed. All the workers went home for the evening and when they returned, this is what they found. Apparently as the tank car cooled, it collapsed. The shell on these tank cars is 7/16th's thick steel. It is hard to imagine the forces it took to do this much damage, to such a large steel object. Looking at the images below, it appears to have been crushed if it was a toy, or a empty pop can in your hand.
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The tank car is smashed, crushed, or collapsed by an unseen force why?
Write me, with yours I'd be glad to post any and all hypothesis, that I might receive.
Link to posted hypothesis's I have received to date. Thanks for your submissions.
The most common (and commonly collapsed) railcar is the DOT 111A100 class or commonly called a "general purpose" tank car. These cars are rated to a test pressure of 100 psig and a minimum burst pressure of 500 psig. Minimum carbon steel plate thickness is 7/16 inch. For a 23,000 gallon car, the tank length is about 55 feet. For comparison purposes the "heaviest" pressure car commonly used is a 105J500, rated to a test pressure of 500 psig and a minimum burst of 1250 psig. They are made of 1 inch thick, high-strength steel plate.
Don't even ask me which Fortune 500 Company had this occur, I can't tell you. It was part of the agreement I made to get the these pictures. These are not public domain, and may not be used beyond looking at the webpage in which they were originally displayed. If you do have an educational use for them please follow the guidelines set forth under (DMCA) Digitial Millennium Copyright Act. As authorized by the 105th Congress 2D Session H.R. 2281 [Report No. 105-551, parts I and III] July 22nd, 1998. DCMA link
Enjoy the Images, and imagine the crushing forces Involved? Any physics student who attempts a calculation, of these forces & share their results with me. Can have their name & results published here for public inspection. Have any images you'd like to share? Let me know I'd be glad to see them, and with your permission add them to my display here.
Mike Garlick
AKA Dr.Slime Science Outreach Coordinator & Lab Mgr @ Delta College
Hey you're my th Visitor!
Always Bewary of Chemicals! Wear Proper Saftey Equipment, Never Eat or Handle food before washing your Hands...
Dr. SLIME
slime@alpha.delta.edu
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