Subscribe by EmailLiquid Nitrogen and the Leidenfrost Effect
August 14, 2009 by Geeks are Sexy | 4 commentsHave you ever seen someone dump his hands in a tub of liquid nitrogen and quickly pull it off without having it frozen in the process? Yes, this is possible, thanks to what is called “the Leidenfrost Effect.”
The Leidenfrost effect is a natural phenomenon in which a liquid, (in this case liquid nitrogen), contacts with a surface that is significantly hotter than the liquid’s boiling point, producing an insulating vapor layer which keeps that liquid from boiling rapidly. This layer of vapor causes water droplets to skitter across the surface of a hot skillet – or protects the hand of a mad scientist from being frozen.
Please note that even though the procedure appears to be relatively safe on video, we do not recommend anyone trying it out.
- $35,000 Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream Maker
- Leaping Shampoo and the Kaye Effect
- Fun with Nitroglycerin and Nitrogen Triiodide
- Balloons in Liquid Nitrogen
Did you enjoy this post? If so, subscribe to the geeksaresexy RSS feed.
I’m a molecular biologist, I’ve done that in my lab in hot days XD Feels good.
I didn’t know it had a name.
I learned a new word! Very neat video, very neat effect. I even mentioned it in conversation yesterday and got stared at like I was an alien. Yay!
I’m researching this for my Physics EEI. Need help? T^T
I’m pretty sure this guy is the one who phones in ransom demands for kidnappers…