Unnerving Event Ensues Upon Depositing a Vibrated Soda Can on the Ocean Depths
Alright, let's dive into the bubbly mystery of soda cans. You know, those fizzy drinks that shoot out everywhere when you open them wrong? Well, what if you ever wondered what would happen if you did that deep underwater?
Remember Colonel Chris Hadfield, the Canadian astronaut who graced us with those space selfies? Well, he once ventured 62 feet down Florida's coast in the Aquarius Laboratory for an underwater space simulation. Disclaimer: do not shake up your sodas at home following this story.
He made a YouTube video (thanks to his son, Evan, who runs Rare Earth) showing off just how wrong things can go. Holding a can of Coca-Cola, he shakes it up and winces as he prepares to open it. But there's no explosion of pop! He takes a sip and, ever the trooper, comments, "It's all right. There you go. One of the advantages of living under the ocean."
Now, here's where the science kicks in. You see, when you open a shaken soda can on the ocean floor, the soda doesn't fizz or erupt as it would on land. That's because the high ambient pressure at the ocean's depths is similar to the pressure inside the carbonated can, effectively equalizing the pressure. Consequently, the dissolved carbon dioxide in the soda is not released as bubbles, so there's no visible reaction or frothing when the can is opened deep underwater[1].
This quirky demonstration is often used by astronauts and ocean explorers to explain how pressure affects familiar processes. Although Colonel Hadfield didn't specifically perform this exact experiment underwater, he's renowned for his engaging communication of science and has shared plenty of fascinating insights from space[2].
In essence: Down deep where the pressure's intense, opening a shaken soda can won't lead to a fizzy eruption because the internal and external pressures are balanced[1]. So there you have it – soda under pressure, and a fun fact to share at your next underwater cocktail party!
In the realm of science, we can apply this understanding to other areas beyond space. For instance, if you're into health-and-wellness or fitness-and-exercise, remember that drinking a shaken bottle of water too quickly can lead to a bloated feeling similar to what happens with a shaken soda can. This is because the liquid's carbon dioxide remains dissolved under the high pressure inside your stomach, only to be released when the pressure lessens as you swallow.
