Shatter Metal... With Liquid Nitrogen!

[pikachubuddy]

You threw liquid nitrogen at the computers?!

[JeffersonLab]

@pikachubuddy Yes, but not that much.

[R0WMaC]

Smart people, please, what would happen if liquid nitrogen went all over my arm??? I don't understand how it works, it is just a gas but it is able to make everything frozen? Why :c

[JeffersonLab]

@R0WMaC It's a substance that exists as a gas at room temperature but has been cooled to the point where it has changed to a gas. Yo know how you can change water from a liquid to a gas by heating it? Well, you can make a gas turn to a liquid by cooling it.

If enough liquid nitrogen got on you arm, your arm would freeze.

[abdufizzer]

great job throwing liquid nitrogen on the computer. I hope you have a warranty.

[JeffersonLab]

@abdufizzer Are you kidding? The computers are... 8 years old at this point? Any warranty they had expired long ago.

[mathyboy1028]

@JeffersonLab is they damaged?

[JeffersonLab]

@mathyboy1028 Nope.

[pikachuluver611]

if the liquid nigtrogen boils, howcome the cup freezes?

[JeffersonLab]

@pikachuluver611 Because 'boil' doesn't mean 'hot.' When something's boiling, it's changing from a liquid to a gas. Different things boil at different temperatures. Nitrogen just happens to boil at what we consider to be a low temperature.

[GoldenPeacockBass]

@JeffersonLab what would have happend if the liquid nitrogen hit one of the computers?

[JeffersonLab]

@GoldenPeacockBass Nothing. There was too little nitrogen to cause any sort of damage.

[MrPencil213]

@JeffersonLab What happens if you touch liquid nitrogen with your bare skin?

[JeffersonLab]

@MrPencil213 It depends on how long you touch it. It'll begin to freeze skin after a second or so.

[TheRandomStephen]

oh ya know just gonna throw it all on the computers

[haddick90]

How are you able to just thorw the liquid behind you i mean its a fluid but it turns into a Gas again but isnt in your lab so much nitrogen gas then wont u get sick or is it dangerous??

[JeffersonLab]

@haddick90 78% of the air is nitrogen gas, so it normally doesn't make you sick. So little of it was used that you'd be hard pressed to measure any change in the concentration of nitrogen gas in the room.

[haddick90]

@JeffersonLab but it looks like you poured very much nitrogen out :D but oine question--> it doesnt get wet so its not Wet bur liquid..in my opinion is that strange :D

[JeffersonLab]

@haddick90 The room is so hot relative to nitrogen's boiling point that it doesn't stay as a liquid for long. Pour a little bit of water onto a really hot frying pan. The water quickly boils away. Would you say that the frying pan was wet? Well, maybe for a short time it was. Same sort of thing with the liquid nitrogen.

[g0rsk13g4n9st4]

@haddick90 no, it boils against surfaces that are at room temperature.

[phoenixrisinghigh]

@haddick90 what the lab guys said, that little bit in the cup basically disperses into enough gas to MAYBE make a large balloon, but the total change in the atmospheric concentration would amount to the scientific vernacular of "jack-squat"

[Chickenz805]

Wait, so it is so cold that it boils? How is that?

[JeffersonLab]

@Chickenz805 It's not "so cold that it boils." It's "it boils at a low temperature."

[typhoonkj]

my friend asks "what can't be broken by liguid nitrogen?'

[JeffersonLab]

@typhoonkj Dry wood is pretty sturdy. Steel that's relatively high in nickel and chromium content is also pretty good.

[typhoonkj]

@JeffersonLab thanks, ill tell my friend that

[languagemaster21]

how r they able to through liquid nitrogen around like that? does it evaporate so quick it doesnt cause any damage?

[JeffersonLab]

@languagemaster21 It boils quickly when it comes into contact with rom temperatures. It doesn't do damage because very little of it is being thrown around.

[typhoonkj]

@JeffersonLab I SEE A TYPO!!! rom = room

[JeffersonLab]

@typhoonkj Not the first. Probably won't be the last.

[RandomGuy8D]

Is your dog barking in the middle of the night? Throw some liquid nitrogen on it, problem solved!

[Weapon283]

0:44

LIKE A BAWS

[WRSvideos]

HAH his face at 0:47 is priceless!

[mbiiidemon]

Have you ever had an accident with the liquid nitrogen? Like accidentally sticking your finger in it?

[JeffersonLab]

@mbiiidemon Yes.

[iveseenbigfoot]

Put your thumb in it next time

[JeffersonLab]

@iveseenbigfoot No thanks.

[mrcesarsoccer]

First time I Saw A Liquid Nitrogen Video From Them I Was Like " why Are They Spilling It "?

[Bellerina2288]

Could you please try putting oobleck in that liquid nitrogen stuff please write back soon please and Thanx

[JeffersonLab]

@Bellerina2288 Don't worry. It will happen, eventually.

[typhoonkj]

i wonder what mercery would do if it was exposed to liquid nitrogen

[JeffersonLab]

@typhoonkj It would freeze.

[typhoonkj]

@JeffersonLab COOL!

hehe see what I did there.

thanks for replying!

[davidgamesalot]

I have a feeling you guys will find a way how to freeze a house

[JeffersonLab]

@davidgamesalot Maybe a small one...

[doubleobou]

Cool but that drop was so fake

[Spelunkstar]

Ye I suppose it does

[wrecka27]

Isn't theatre spelt like that rather than theater

[JeffersonLab]

@wrecka27 It depends on whether you are in the U.S. or in the U.K.

[ZombiesnumberONE]

you guys sureeee love that nitrogen...

[JeffersonLab]

@ZombiesnumberONE Yep!

[Thefashiongirlz101]

if you just pour liquid nitrogen on the floor or furniture will it be damaged?

[JeffersonLab]

@Thefashiongirlz101 For the most part, no. Furniture made from wood can handle it and our floor is a carpeted slab of concrete. You wouldn't want to pour it on a glass or plastic table, however.

[Thefashiongirlz101]

@JeffersonLab Thank you mister or mrs im 11 years old and i want to become scientist like you guys too!

[KodyW18]

what if when the girl emptied the pewter, a few drops of liquid nitrogen had landed on the guy? would it freeze those cells instantly and a few small pieces of skin would break off, or does the nitrogen take a few seconds to do that and by that time it would already be gaseous once more?

[JeffersonLab]

@KodyW18 If it were just a drop or two, most likely nothing. Everything is so hot relative to nitrogen's boiling point that the nitrogen would immediately boil on contact and create a layer of insulating gas that would protect Steve. It would be enough to protect him from a drop or two... assuming it didn't get trapped against him, say in the bend of his arm. In that case, small bits of flesh would have been frozen. (continued...)

[JeffersonLab]

@KodyW18 (continued...) The 'fling' move was practiced a number of times to avoid hitting Steve or the computers. Even with the practice, you can see that Joanna was still very deliberate with her motions.

[jorge10928]

Liquid Nitrogen is the solution to everything!

[cegoins25]

doesn't it damage the computer when joanna throw the liquid nitrogen on it?

[JeffersonLab]

@cegoins25 No. The amount that actually made it to the computer was small. The computer is also smooth, so there is nowhere for the nitrogen to collect and sit for any amount of time. Too little nitrogen and too little time for anything to happen to the computers.

[monstertamer]

I'm wondering. When the cup was frozen, why does it becomes fragile? Should it be stronger since lower temperature = lower kinetic energy = stronger intermolecular forces?

[JeffersonLab]

@monstertamer Metals are malleable due to metallic bonding. In metallic bonding, electrons aren't shared between two atoms like they are in covalent bonding. They are actually shared over a great number of atoms. As a result, the atoms can be rearranged without expending a great deal of energy and without disrupting the bonding. As it gets colder, it becomes more difficult to rearrange the bonds, making it easier to develop stress in the metal that can result in breaking.

[Weapon283]

Why does the liquid nitrogen boil?

[JeffersonLab]

@Weapon283 Because the room is hot enough for it to do so. Imagine the the room was hundreds of degrees and you threw some water on the desk. The water would boil because the room, and everything in it, is far too hot for it to stay as a liquid. That's what the liquid nitrogen is experiencing. It just has a much lower boiling point than water does.

[ITzzTaCtiiCs]

girl on right: throws liquid nitrogen back onto computers *BANG!* :L

[LoganVideo12TV]

hi!

[JeffersonLab]

@LoganVideo12TV Hey!

[tim4345]

Did she poor it on the computers

[JeffersonLab]

@tim4345 The tossed it towards the computers. Some of it hit the computers, but not nearly enough to damage them.

[ambarigreyson3000]

wow...thids is rlly bad

[xilix]

She's so pretty.

[Razer1103]

I saw someone asked a question about electronics in liquid nitrogen, (They asked in a different video) I do believe computers and electronics perform faster and more efficiently when cool, are you sure the computer won't perform faster?

[JeffersonLab]

@Razer1103 They can be made to run faster because they are being cooled. Switching transistors on and off takes energy and produces heat. It's the removal of this heat that limits how fast the chip can run. Don't remove the heat quickly enough and the chip overheats. The faster the chip runs, the more heat it produces and the faster it needs to be removed. The rate at which heat flows depends on the temperature difference and using nitrogen give you a large temperature difference.

[AdRiaNxTF]

Do you guys have any mercury? I would love to see some mercury experiments!!

[JeffersonLab]

@AdRiaNxTF Our Safety Division would never approve of experiments involving mercury.

[NameTheLlama]

why does the liquid nitrogen sound loud when she spills it out on the computers?

[JeffersonLab]

@NameTheLlama It sounds loud when it falls on the rug. When it hits the rug, a lot of it can boil at one time. The sudden creation of gas (1 cc of liquid expands to about 1,000 cc of gas) creates a shock wave that we hear as sound. It's similar to how lightning produces thunder.

[joecooper18]

Why do you throw away the liquid nitrogen after each experiment? why cant you pour it back in the container?

[JeffersonLab]

@joecooper18 There's really no point in putting it back in the transfer Dewar since it won't keep the liquid nitrogen from boiling away before we need it again. We also can't return withdrawn nitrogen to the main storage Dewars. So, whatever we withdraw for a given experiment is as good as spilt anyway. Might as well pour it out since that at least looks cool.

[ProfessionalDad]

Bye Bye tax dollars.....*wave

[lacrossefan8]

@JeffersonLab how do you go through that much liquid nitrogen a day? Do you have to use a lot of it at once for an experiment?

[JeffersonLab]

@lacrossefan8 We have a superconductive electron accelerator that requires 2 K liquid helium. We use the liquid nitrogen to cool warm helium down to 77 K before sending it to the rest of the refrigeration system.

[minecraftftw37]

@whiskers1224 would we (civilians) get the same price as you or do you get it cheap because you are an scientific instution (also if it cost the same for us please leave a link)

[JeffersonLab]

@minecraftftw37 We get it cheaply because we buy a lot of it.

[fireflamesoccer]

Did u Ruin the computer Behind.

 P.S Please Reply

[JeffersonLab]

@fireflamesoccer Nope, the computer is fine.

[TheJordandicaprio]

Would putting an existing bell in liquid nitrogen enhance it's tonal qualities then? And when the cup warms back up, does it just sound like the thud again? Or does it has some bell-like qualities? In some music repair/modification shops, they are offering cryogenic treatments to brass instrument to enhance tonal quality... I am skeptical but anything to please an audience! ODU trumpet player here!

[JeffersonLab]

@TheJordandicaprio I'm not sure, but I assume that a cryogenically cooled bell would ring a bit better while it's cold. As far as the pewter cup is concerned, once it warms up, it's back to thudding again.

[chocolate820028]

i love science! i love this video !!

[chace2002]

you guys love liquid nitrogen!

[Polybun]

In our machine shop we build very large equipment. One of the jobs we perform is to fit bearings into bearing boxes. The bore the bearing drops into is actually .007" smaller than the bearing that fits into it. We freeze the 36" diameter bearing in liquid nitrogen (50 gallons worth) and the OD of the bearing shrinks .030" +/- .010". The bearing drops in place, and once it warms up, will never, never, never come out. This produces a clamping forces of hundreds of thousands of pounds.

[yomumisminging]

you guys should look into ferrofluid - some of that + magnets + liquid nitrogen = millions of win

[rossco2700]

Im 15 this is sick

[whiskers1224]

Where do you get all the liquid nitrogen? Isnt it expensive?

[JeffersonLab]

@whiskers1224 It depends on what you consider to be expensive. We get liquid nitrogen for about $1 a gallon, but we do buy about 6,000 gallons a day.

[xXDEICIDE216Xx]

@JeffersonLab Doesnt matter. What you are doing even if it inspires one child to become interested, the money was well worth it. You guys rock. Keep being the awesome people that you are. Also, post MORE videos! NOW!

[whiskers1224]

@whiskers1224 where do you buy all the liquid nitrogen?

[JeffersonLab]

@whiskers1224 From the supplier who offers the lowers bid. Currently, I think it's Air Liquide.

[PokechampionJade]

so... wouldn't liquid nitrogen hurt the computers if you threw it on them?

[JeffersonLab]

@PokechampionJade If we threw enough, yes. However, what made it back to the computers was a very small amount. Not enough to hurt them.

[idk1234idk88]

it didnt shadder

[Toothbrushtester]

When he dropped it that was so fake

[pyrosaber14]

That's cool. :D

[pyrosaber14]

What happened to the liquid part when she threw it?

[JeffersonLab]

@pyrosaber14 Since nitrogen boils at 77 K and the rest of the room is nearly 300 K, it very quickly boiled away.

[tonymengela]

Will you do an experiment with lithium metal and nitrogen? I was told that nitrogen actually melts lithium metal not hardens it, I would like to know the answer so I am not misled. Thanks in advance but if you cannot Thank you anyway. Have a great day

[langhalsen]

Isn't liquid nitrogen really dangerous? I mean, you guy throw it around and all that

[JeffersonLab]

@langhalsen There are risks associated with using liquid nitrogen and it's certainly possible to be hurt by it, but it isn't especially dangerous as long as precautions are taken. It can freeze you and, given enough of it in a small enough space, it can asphyxiate you. These are well understood hazards that are easy enough to guard against. It isn't poisonous or flammable and, by and large, is a well behaved substance. It isn't like throwing gasoline around the room, which is much easier to get.

[ilikepienotu]

@JeffersonLab so what would happen if i threw a cup of liquid nitrogen at my anoying friend

[JeffersonLab]

@ilikepienotu They would probably become even more annoying as they complained about bits of frozen flesh.

[YuneShik]

@JeffersonLab But now that I think about it, maybe you guys should show some precautions in case others try things like this thinking it is fully safe. haha idk but you will never know.

[JeffersonLab]

@YuneShik We do in our "Behind the Scenes" video.

[YuneShik]

@JeffersonLab Yeah I mean I'm fine with what you guys do haha. I just had a random thought that someone might watch this and just go crazy with the nitrogen.

[xato909]

Now you can overclock that computer without worrying about the temperature ;)

[Eldest9292]

could you break diamond with liquid nitrogen?

[whatsabolero]

Well, it didn't exactly shatter

[CrazyGoGoVrose]

r u guys obsessed with liquid nitrogen?

[AngryLlamaAttack]

I just realized you guys are super close to me! I'm in richmond. Do you guys give live demonstrations ??

[JeffersonLab]

@AngryLlamaAttack Yes. Search our site for the 'Physics Fest' schedule.

[The12344555555]

O no the computers

[ZeonPeon]

Sub(zero)scribed.

[insanezaneify]

where did you get liquid nitrogen?

[JeffersonLab]

@insanezaneify We generally get it from the Test Lab fill station.

[sterlingstallion123]

cool

[LightingMan333]

how do you get so much liquid nitrogen

[JeffersonLab]

@LightingMan333 "We buy it." is the answer to the question you asked. If you are wondering -why- we have so much nitrogen, it's because we operate a superconductive electron accelerator and the liquid nitrogen helps us make the liquid helium the accelerator needs.

[metalqueenofnothing]

what would happen if you put a lithium battery into liquid nitrogen?

[guitargrinder1]

that was corny when she said

"But we can solve that with liquid nitrogen"

[AirSofter241]

why is it ok to throw liquid nitrogen on to computers?

[JeffersonLab]

@AirSofter241 It wasn't enough nitrogen to hurt the computers.

[PaintSniffer07]

So what happens when it thaws? Does it shatter?

[JeffersonLab]

@PaintSniffer07 No, it becomes soft again like it was before.

[mkauf84]

Do all metals shatter or just the soft ones?

[JeffersonLab]

@mkauf84 Not everything shatters. For instance, the metal our Dewars are made from handle it quite well.

[DarkNemesis25]

Haha so scripted and awkard but shes so attractive *sigh* well there goes my 3 second attention span .. Off to next video

[porsupuesto100]

could you please answer this question where can i buy or how can i make nitrogen liquid?

[JeffersonLab]

@porsupuesto100 Assuming that you have the proper training, equipment and vehicle to use, store and transport it safely, try looking in your local Yellow Pages under 'Welding Supply.'

[HalomasterA69]

@JeffersonLab So could u use liquid nitrogen in a fire suppression system? Sense it doesnt hurt machinery ?

[JeffersonLab]

@HalomasterA69 You could, if you could engineer the system to hold the pressure of the boiling nitrogen (not a trivial task) and if people in the area if/when the system activated didn't mind getting getting killed by it.

[HalomasterA69]

@JeffersonLab Well maybe they could get the suppresion system to hold inergen and nitrogen, So like the nitrogen is only in the rooms with the equipment and the intergen being in offices, because i mean it seems logical when the lady threw the nitrogen right on the computers and nothing happened. And maybecould u just use the steam from the nitrogen ? Or would have to use the liquid portion as well ?

[JeffersonLab]

@HalomasterA69 Not all that much nitrogen was thrown on the computer. That's why it didn't get hurt. If it had been on fire, that little amount wouldn't have put it out. Start using large amounts and you start cracking plastic, shattering glass, and other unfortunate stuff.

Also, there isn't any nitrogen steam. The smokey looking stuff is just fog. The nitrogen cools the air enough to cause the water vapor in it to condense into clouds.

[HalomasterA69]

@JeffersonLab Ahhhhh, so the safer bet is using intergen, just like that vid ya did with u in the auditorium with acouple fo schools, u were pointing out the fire exits, and i paused and saw the sprinkler system, or suppression system so i was thinking, hm why not use nitrogen, but now i know so, thanks for awensering my questions! It means alot:)

[SlenderWaffle]

I looove Steve's face at 0:48 !

[Fgafmi]

I'd like to have lots of liquid nitrogen that I'd throw without sorrow... (sorry for my bad english)

[christiskingofall]

@JeffersonLab What would happen if the liquid nitrogen you threw over your shoulder splashed?

[JeffersonLab]

@christiskingofall It did splash. It's not like the nitrogen is going to land in one nice lump. Since it was being thrown on wood tables and smooth plastic computers, we knew the nitrogen wouldn't be in contact with anything for very long and would quickly fall to the floor where it would get trapped in the rug and vaporized. The only real worry was for the keyboards.

[christiskingofall]

@JeffersonLab Yeah that's what I meant, I didn't complete my sentence. What if the liquid nitrogen splashed onto the computer?

[JeffersonLab]

@christiskingofall It actually did splash on the computer. But, given the small amounts of liquid nitrogen we were using, we knew that it would just bounce right off of them. Realize that the computers are way hotter than the liquid nitrogen is. As soon as the liquid nitrogen touches a computer, the nitrogen boils and a gas buffer forms between the computer and the nitrogen. Then, gravity takes over.

[kra41]

press 2 -8-3

[TheThirdGear]

Wait she just destroyed the keyboard?

[JeffersonLab]

@TheThirdGear No, the keyboard is fine. Not enough got into it to cause any damage.

[dantheiphoneman]

Awwwwwww eMacs are the bomb

[dantheiphoneman]

Can i have an eMac?

[JeffersonLab]

@dantheiphoneman Sorry, but no. The computers are government property. People would take a dim view of us giving them away.

[rofflawl]

Can you just throw liquid nitrogen anywhere and it'll be safe?

[JeffersonLab]

@rofflawl No. While it may not look like it, we're actually being very careful as to where we're throwing the liquid nitrogen.

[derickftw]

@JeffersonLab I find this comment quite sarcastic.

[JeffersonLab]

@derickftw We're not being sarcastic at all. We are being quite careful with where we're throwing/spilling the nitrogen.

[kindylmefrench101]

C'est pas cool

[TaranEdward]

Yeah, geeze Steve!

[nopewontyou]

may i have some of your liquid nitrogen?

[JeffersonLab]

@nopewontyou Sorry, no.

[crazyguy3310]

These people are awesome just through liquid nitrogen anywhere you want

[JeffersonLab]

@crazyguy3310 We're the honey badgers of liquid nitrogen!

[xXBluePaperXx]

Even tho the dropping of the cup was of course on purpose ;) i still very much enjoyed the video :)

[apemannen3000]

bad comedy..

[HardKore5250]

How come its still brittle if liquid nitrogen froze it?

[JeffersonLab]

@HardKore5250 Room temperature pewter is relatively close to its melting point. The bonds between molecules is relatively weak, so it isn't difficult to rearrange them. Once it gets cold, it's more difficult for the molecules to rearrange because they are more tightly bonded.

[Snakecharmer95]

Bad Steve, no cookie for you. Joanna gets cake for being good sport =D. you can share the cake with Steve, Joanna. =D yay everyone's happy!

[JeffersonLab]

@Snakecharmer95 Yay!

[negetif]

And I'm Albert :D

[hellscruel]

I'll still give you a biscuit :-)