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4C30.35-LN2 Bomb

4c3035ln2_bomb

Video: Watch this demo

Instructor’s video

Description: This demo shows what happens when LN2 warms up inside a closed container.

Equipment:

  • LN2
  • A couple small soda bottles
  • Small Thermos
  • Protective gloves
  • Recycle bin

Setup Procedure:

  1. Poor the LN2 into the small thermos. Do not screw the cap on.
  2. Supply the professor with 2 small water bottles (umass bottles are prefered).
  3. Clear out one of the recycle bins.

Demonstration Procedure:

  1. With gloves on, fill a small water bottle up with about 1/5 LN2. Don’t use bottles much over a half liter.
  2. Once the LN2 stops boiling, cap it off tight.
  3. Quickly put it in a container (such as recycle bin) for safety, and put the lid on.
  4. Depending on how strong the bottle is, this may take 1-10 minutes to explode.
  5. As the temperature rises, so does the pressure. Also, since the LN2 is moving from a liquid to a gas state, the pressure goes up dramatically.

Explosives Explosives
This demo is loud and can be dangerous. Use caution and keep this away from students and yourself once you cap it.

Liquid Nitrogen Liquid Nitrogen
Use caution when working with liquid nitrogen, as it is very cold.

Note: If the bottle breaks early on (or was already broke), nothing will happen. If nothing happens, do not poke your head in to take a look.
Leave it and notify the lecture prep staff.