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Fun With Liquid Nitrogen

December 3, 2007 RSS Feed Print

Channeling their inner Bill Nye, a group of curious University of Arkansas students blew up three bottles with liquid nitrogen in the middle of campus, the Arkansas Traveler reports. Though there were apparently no injuries or property damage, university police arrested one of the students for criminal use of a prohibited weapon, a class D felony.

Apparently, liquid nitrogen bombs have caused accidental injuries in the past—the explosion can "tear up anything within 6 to 8 feet," and if filled with gravel or sticks, can send shrapnel up to 25 feet away. Who knew? "I never would have done it if I thought it would end like this," the arrested student told the paper.

Tags:: University of Arkansas

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I want to decorate Durga Puja Mandap with Liquid Nitrogen, the mandap seems to be cloudy for 4 hours. please give me a idea about it.

Srinibas Sahu 4:06AM August 13, 2009

A liquid nitrogen "bomb" is the result of liquid nitrogen expanding in a sealed container. If the container is a polymer (such as a plastic 2 liter Coke bottle) the pressure builds up to the point that the plastic breaks with a loud concussion and a certain amount of force. If done with people a safe distance away (100 feet) and assuring that the rupturing of the bottle does not launch anything hard (stones, etc.) it is perfectly safe. The container itself splits into light, harmless pieces.
Of course it's dangerous to use it as a cluster bomb (i.e. wrapping it with nails), but as a science demonstration, or for benign amusement, it's safe when done right.
Incidentally, exactly the same explosion can be made by creating pressure with a bicycle pump and a fitting into the top of the bottle. There's nothing inherently dangerous (much less explosive) about liquid nitrogen, which is non reactive. Liquid nitrogen is also a great way to put out a fire.

John Perkins of AZ 5:38PM February 20, 2009

Fun With Liquid Nitrogen

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