Take an empty aluminum soda can and add a few drops of water to the inside of th

Question

Take an empty aluminum soda can and add a few drops of water to the inside of the can. Cover the opening with a piece of scotch tape, then puncture a small (pin-size) hole in the tape to allow a small amount of airflow. Now fill a small bowl with about an inch of cold water. Heat the soda can until you start to see a little steam coming through the hole in the tape. Carefully (be sure to use protective gloves or tongs) invert the hot can into the bowl of water so that the taped end is submerged. You may observe something fairly interesting. Discuss the following concepts throughout the course of the experiment: a) overall observations of the experiment, b) any phase changes with the water in the can, c) air pressure changes inside the can, d) the types of heat-transfer processes occurring, e) explanations of what occurred.

Explanation / Answer

Heating of few drops of water generate water vapour whole inside the tight hollow can. It started to exert pressure on the wall and cap of scotch tape. A phase transition from Liquid to gaseous is obereved. Now, the presence of cold water interface at the opening side, it worked as a heat sink and immediately vapours again converted into dew of water. This was a process of condensation and may be correlated with cloud condensation when any cold front come acrosses and precipitation happens.

B. Phase change is observed as the colder interface is introduced by submerging.

C. Vapour converted to dew and hence vapour pressure got down.

D. In first stage, simply conduction. Cooling may be due to convection or conduction.

E. Refer to first para.

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