Mousetrap Fission

An array of 138 mousetraps are set off in a chain reaction. Ping-pong balls help visualize both neutrons and the release of energy. Shot in 600 fps and 1000 fps.

Thanks to Rob for letting us use the camera.

For more details on our setup see http://sciencedemonstrations.fas.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do?keyword=k16940&pa...

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Category:

Education

Tags:

• mousetrap
• fission
• ping-pong balls
• chain reaction
• nuclear fission
• thermodynamics
• nuclear
• demonstration
• 600 fps

[powertube5671]

Saw it on Disneyland program in the 50s.

[NatSciDemos]

@powertube5671 That's where we got the idea from.

[TechWizard28]

Now do fusion.....

[LievenScheire]

This is a great way to explain critical mass (or density) in a a fission reaction. You should start doing this with 10 mousetraps equally spread in this box, then 20, then 30, and see where the critical density for a chain reaction is.

[TheAnonymous6818]

LOTTO!!!!

[DeathzStalkers]

The front row, second mousetrap: THE SOLE SURVIVOR OF THE APOCALYPSE!! BOOYAH!

[Aguaatlantis]

mmmmmm s'mores :D

[Mycophilliac]

Those mousetraps actually impart alot of velocity, @ 0:35 a mousetrap damn near hits the top of the tank.

[K3yP1ayer]

@NatSciDemos I did this with 6 mousetraps and pingpong balls when I was 9, in 4th grade at Montclair Elementary School, Denver, CO, back in 1960. It was not in a clear plastic enclosure, but it was still quite impressive. Learning to set the mousetraps was a total PITA, though, and made me cry the first few times my fingers got caught in the traps. Come to think of it, I think that was when I learned to curse, too!

[JohoMatlby37]

Try again, but stick the mousetraps down so that it's just the balls that fly around, not the traps.

[LOTDCrew]

I remember my teacher showed this video when she taught my class about molecules as a demonstration of colliding molecules.

[brysown1]

next time throw a live rat or monkey in there...you know just for science purposes