Scribd
Upload
371 views3 pages

Laboratory Report of Collapsing Can

The collapsing can experiment demonstrates how changes in temperature affect air pressure inside a closed system. Heating an empty soda can causes the air molecules inside to move faster, increasing the pressure. When the hot can is quickly submerged in cold water, the air inside cools and contracts rapidly, lowering the pressure inside the can below atmospheric pressure outside. This pressure differential causes the can to collapse inward, illustrating Boyle's law. The experiment allows students to observe firsthand how temperature, pressure, and volume interact in a closed system like a sealed can or food container.

Uploaded by

dubu pork
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
371 views3 pages

Laboratory Report of Collapsing Can

The collapsing can experiment demonstrates how changes in temperature affect air pressure inside a closed system. Heating an empty soda can causes the air molecules inside to move faster, increasing the pressure. When the hot can is quickly submerged in cold water, the air inside cools and contracts rapidly, lowering the pressure inside the can below atmospheric pressure outside. This pressure differential causes the can to collapse inward, illustrating Boyle's law. The experiment allows students to observe firsthand how temperature, pressure, and volume interact in a closed system like a sealed can or food container.

Uploaded by

dubu pork
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

Laboratory Report of Collapsing Can

Introduction

The collapsing can experiment is a classic demonstration of how air pressure works. This experiment
involves an empty can, a heat source, and cold water. The can is placed on a heat source until the air
inside the can gets heated. Then the can is removed from the heat source and quickly submerged in
cold water. The temperature difference causes the air inside the can to cool and contract, creating a
low-pressure area within the can. The pressure outside the can is still high, causing the can to collapse
inward.

One of the key concepts of this experiment is the relationship between pressure, temperature, and
volume. The pressure inside the can is created by the air molecules that are constantly bouncing around
and colliding with each other and the walls of the can. When the can is heated, the air molecules start
moving faster, which leads to more collisions and an increase in pressure. When the can is quickly
cooled, the opposite happens, and the air molecules slow down, resulting in a decrease in pressure.

The collapsing can experiment is an excellent way to teach students about atmospheric pressure,
Boyle's Law, and the behavior of gases. This demonstration allows students to see firsthand the results
of changing temperature and pressure in a closed system. Students can use this experiment to learn
about how pressure and temperature vary in different environments, such as different altitudes or
different air compositions.

Methodology:

Materials:
- Soda can
- Small amount of water
- Heat source
- Tongs or oven mitt
- Container of ice water

Procedure:

1. Fill the soda can with a small amount of water (about 1/4 full).

2. Heat the can over a heat source until the water inside begins to boil and steam is produced.

3. Using tongs or an oven mitt, quickly invert the can and place it upside-down into the container of ice
water.
4. Observe the can as it collapses due to the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the
can

Results and Discussion

As the can is heated, the water inside begins to boil and produce steam. The steam pushes the air out
of the can, creating a lower pressure environment inside. When the can is inverted and placed into the
container of ice water, the steam inside the can rapidly condenses, creating a partial vacuum that causes
the can to collapse.

This experiment demonstrates the effects of air pressure and the relationship between temperature,
pressure, and volume. As the temperature inside the can increases, the pressure inside the can also
increases. When the can is rapidly cooled,the pressure inside and outside the can decreases, creating a
pressure differential between the inside and outside of the can.The resulting vacuum causes the can to
collapse.

This experiment also has practical applications.It is similar to the process used in the production of
certain food products, such as canned soups and fruits.The cans are heated to high temperature to
sterilize the contents,the rapidly cooled to create a partial vacuum that seals the can prevents
contamination.
Conclusion

In conclusion, the collapsing can experiment demonstrates the effects of atmospheric pressure on an
empty can. The experiment shows that when the can is heated, the air molecules inside the can expand,
creating higher pressure. When the can is removed from the heat source and quickly placed in cold
water, the air molecules cool and contract, creating a lower pressure within the can. The higher
atmospheric pressure outside the can then crushes the can, causing it to collapse.

This experiment is an excellent way for students to learn about the principles of pressure changes and
how they can affect solid bodies. It can also help students understand how air pressure, temperature,
and volume are related to each other and how they work together to create different phenomena.

Overall, the experiment provides a fun and hands-on way for students to understand essential
concepts in physics, and it is a useful tool in teaching students about the properties of matter and how
they interact with each other.

You might also like