Re: Pyrex "Explosion" Conserves Energy?

[cliff parker <cparker@CHARTER.NET>]

Leigh Palmer wrote:

> I used to do a trick with liquid nitrogen and a Pink Pearl eraser.
> If I placed the eraser in liquid nitrogen for about thirty seconds
> starting from room temperature, and then removed it from the cold
> and placed it on an insulating tabletop, the eraser would often
> explode in a manner similar to what happened with the Pyrex dish.
> The effect is not highly reproducible, but it can be spectacular
> when it works.
>
> Leigh

I accidentally discovered a similar result when I dropped a one hole
rubber stopper into liquid nitrogen and thought I would drop it to the
floor to demonstrate that the properties of the rubber were
significantly different than my students are used to seeing.  Before I
was able to get the thing dropped it exploded.  Thankfully nobody wa
hit by flying shards of rubber in the mishap but it was quite
spectacular.

--
Cliff Parker

Never express yourself more clearly than you can think.  --  Niels
Bohr