Do you think atmospheric pressure is powerful enough to crush a can? Use the following mat...

Do you think atmospheric pressure is powerful enough to crush a can? Use the following materials and procedure to determine the answer:

Materials

• hot plate

• empty soft drink can with one tablespoon of water inside

• tongs (to pick up the hot can)

• shallow pan filled with cool water

Procedure

a. Turn on the hot plate to a medium temperature.

b. After ensuring a tablespoon of water has been inserted into the soft drink can, place it onto the hotplate.

c. Observe how the water temperature rises and fills the can with water vapor allowing steam lo escape from the top opening.

d. Using the longs, quickly pick up the soda can, turn it upside down and place the opening into the shallow pan of cool water.

NOTE: The can should immediately crush and a dull popping sound should occur. If this does NOT happen then start over with the procedure ensuring the tablespoon of water inside the can has had enough time to vaporize.

e. Explain what happened. Air pressure decreases as the water vapor condenses inside the can. The can crushed due to the air pressure inside the can becoming less than the atmospheric pressure outside the can.