MadSci Network: Chemistry
Query:

Re: Characteristics of carbonated liquids in zero gravity?

Date: Wed Oct 4 20:32:26 2000
Posted By: John Pojman, Faculty, Chemistry, University of Southern Mississippi
Area of science: Chemistry
ID: 970687514.Ch
Message:

The bubble size only depends on the pressure in the surrounding 
atmosphere.  That is not a function of whether you are in 
weightlessness or not.  From personal experience I can say that on 
the KC-135 aircraft, carbonated drinks do not explode during the 
weightless phase of the flight.  (The pressure in the cabin is the 
same as on a commercial airliner.)  If you pour out the drink, the fluid 
will form globs that undulate about.  However, the bubbles do not rise 
because the force of buoyancy is gone.

If you opened a soda can in a vacuum, it would foam up rapidly as the 
gas bubbles expand.


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