Monday, August 30, 2010

Hand in liquid nitrogen with no ill effects!

From Popular Science via IO9 comes a video that is very interesting to watch. I had heard of being able to dip your hand in liquid nitrogen and be protected by the evaporation around your hand for a few moments. This is the first time I have actually seen it done. Still wouldn't do it though!
Also at the IO9 link are some links to sites that describes the effect that protects the person's hand called the Leidenfrost Effect. Check out the video and the science link in the IO9 article, I didn't even know the effect had a name! huh!

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

There's an episode of MythBusters where they dip their hands in molten lead with no harm done.

Beam Me Up said...

Yeah I think have seen that one Anon...not the same effect though. The nitrogen is much like the trick of rubbing a fist with almost pure alcohol and lighting it. As long as there is an evaporation interface you are safe. With a molten metal you are not creating an evaporation layer... but in playing with liquid solder I find that the sweat on your skin vaporizes to protect the area for a split second.