Comments on: SciFoo post 2: electric something or other http://www.electricboogaloo.net/wordpress/archives/2009/07/17/scifoo-post-2-electric-something-or-other/ Fri, 12 Mar 2010 11:27:33 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Simon Quellen Field http://www.electricboogaloo.net/wordpress/archives/2009/07/17/scifoo-post-2-electric-something-or-other/comment-page-1/#comment-199255 Simon Quellen Field Sat, 17 Oct 2009 20:50:37 +0000 http://www.electricboogaloo.net/wordpress/?p=1611#comment-199255 Yes, that's me in the photo. ;-) In the cooler is a balloon. I was demonstrating an interesting thing that happens when you put a balloon in liquid nitrogen. One would expect the balloon to get smaller, up to a point, and then remain partially inflated, since the nitrogen in the balloon will not get cold enough to completely condense into liquid itself (any more than a balloon full of steam would completely condense in a bucket of water in a 500 degree oven). But it DOES all turn into a liquid. I got lots of guesses from famous scientists about why that might be, but we all ended up agreeing that my original guess was probably best -- that the nitrogen gas was dissolving in the liquid oxygen that forms when you put the balloon full of air in the liquid nitrogen. You might also like my latest project. A high resolution spectrograph you can build in 15 minutes for $20. http://bit.ly/HeGPY Self calibrating, sub nanometer accuracy, lab quality. Yes, that’s me in the photo.
;-)

In the cooler is a balloon. I was demonstrating an interesting thing that happens when you put a balloon in liquid nitrogen. One would expect the balloon to get smaller, up to a point, and then remain partially inflated, since the nitrogen in the balloon will not get cold enough to completely condense into liquid itself (any more than a balloon full of steam would completely condense in a bucket of water in a 500 degree oven).

But it DOES all turn into a liquid. I got lots of guesses from famous scientists about why that might be, but we all ended up agreeing that my original guess was probably best — that the nitrogen gas was dissolving in the liquid oxygen that forms when you put the balloon full of air in the liquid nitrogen.

You might also like my latest project.
A high resolution spectrograph you can build in 15 minutes for $20.
http://bit.ly/HeGPY
Self calibrating, sub nanometer accuracy, lab quality.

]]> By: Squirl http://www.electricboogaloo.net/wordpress/archives/2009/07/17/scifoo-post-2-electric-something-or-other/comment-page-1/#comment-193713 Squirl Sun, 19 Jul 2009 11:41:14 +0000 http://www.electricboogaloo.net/wordpress/?p=1611#comment-193713 I am so thrilled to hear about the parenting methods of these folks. They (and you) are the ones preparing children to lead us in the future. I live in Michigan and have seen people who believe in old-fashioned discipline, the parent is always right, beat the kid a little to make sure he doesn't get too uppity. Well, you get the idea. The problem with that is that's a good attitude to have if you want a lot of blue-collar workers. Your children, and those of your sci-foo folks, will be ready for the new technologies and mental challenges ahead. The world is changing rapidly. Thank goodness someone's helping bring up our children to excel in it. My parents weren't bad, but sometimes I wish they'd been more like you and Kevin. :-) I am so thrilled to hear about the parenting methods of these folks. They (and you) are the ones preparing children to lead us in the future. I live in Michigan and have seen people who believe in old-fashioned discipline, the parent is always right, beat the kid a little to make sure he doesn’t get too uppity. Well, you get the idea. The problem with that is that’s a good attitude to have if you want a lot of blue-collar workers. Your children, and those of your sci-foo folks, will be ready for the new technologies and mental challenges ahead. The world is changing rapidly. Thank goodness someone’s helping bring up our children to excel in it.

My parents weren’t bad, but sometimes I wish they’d been more like you and Kevin. :-)

]]> By: daisyfae http://www.electricboogaloo.net/wordpress/archives/2009/07/17/scifoo-post-2-electric-something-or-other/comment-page-1/#comment-193680 daisyfae Sun, 19 Jul 2009 00:27:03 +0000 http://www.electricboogaloo.net/wordpress/?p=1611#comment-193680 freezing marshmallows with LN2 would be almost like making your own dippin' dots! love the science guy link - i get to do science outreach sometimes in the local schools and may swipe some of this! great stuff! freezing marshmallows with LN2 would be almost like making your own dippin’ dots! love the science guy link – i get to do science outreach sometimes in the local schools and may swipe some of this! great stuff!

]]> By: Sally http://www.electricboogaloo.net/wordpress/archives/2009/07/17/scifoo-post-2-electric-something-or-other/comment-page-1/#comment-193670 Sally Sat, 18 Jul 2009 23:49:39 +0000 http://www.electricboogaloo.net/wordpress/?p=1611#comment-193670 What's in that cooler? Is that a head? What’s in that cooler? Is that a head?

]]> By: LynzM http://www.electricboogaloo.net/wordpress/archives/2009/07/17/scifoo-post-2-electric-something-or-other/comment-page-1/#comment-193649 LynzM Sat, 18 Jul 2009 16:24:35 +0000 http://www.electricboogaloo.net/wordpress/?p=1611#comment-193649 That sounds like a really awesome group of people to hang out with :D (color me jealous!) Oooh, crunchy off-gassing marshmallows. Sweet! That sounds like a really awesome group of people to hang out with :D (color me jealous!)

Oooh, crunchy off-gassing marshmallows. Sweet!

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