How Powerful is Air Pressure?

What You Need

1. 2. 3. empty soda cans hotplate beaker water oven mitt or beaker tongs pail of cold water

Method
Rinse the can, so it is reasonably clean. Put a small quantity of water (2 tablespoons) in the can. Place the can on the hotplate and keep it there until the water boils and steam comes out of the can.

4. Carefully remove the can from the hotplate using the mitt or tongs. 5. Quickly immerse the soda can, with steam still evolving, top side down in the water. Observe what happens.

Expected Results
The soda can will be crushed almost instantaneously.

Why It Works
Air exerts a pressure of 14.7 pounds on every square inch. As the steam in the cans condenses, the air pressure inside the can drops and there is a difference in pressure between the inside and outside of the can. This is primarily the result of the change in state from vapor to liquid and to a lesser degree from the contraction of the gas in the can as it cools. This means a soda can (6.5 inches high and 3 inches in diameter) has a force of over 900 pounds pressing down on its sides!