Railroad Physics

[n7gxz]

Well here is one for the experts.



Railroad Physics



Kevin

 

[Shovelhead]

All I can say is

WOW!!

 

[Archive]

YIKES!!! That is amazing!

 

[Bob Wagner]

boy oh boy

WW

 

[roadranger]

whoops!



sorry boss.....

 

[Mike Sisk]

I remember doing this experiment in grade school (with a can--not a tank car!).



This was back in the days when it wasn't neccessary to have disclaimers in the textbook about not touching hot things and don't drink the chemicals.



I guess science education isn't what is used to be.



Here's what happens: the steam displaces air in the container. Then it's sealed and allowed to cool. As it cools the steam condenses into water creating a partial vacuum in the container. The atmopheric pressure of 14. 7 PSI outside the container does the rest.

 

[Todd G]

I am assuming that they used some kind of steam injection equipment to clean the inside of the tanker. There is no way you could put that much steam inside there and do it by hand inside the tank. To do that kind of damage, the temperature difference between the inside and outside would have to be extreme.

 

[DHatfield]

That's pretty impressive I must say.

 

[KatDiesel]

Hehe if y'all only knew some of the things that happen on the railroad... ... ... ... ... . hehehe

 

[Bob V]

Looks to me like someone pumped out the tanker without venting it. I heard of it happining but never seen it. In that large of an area it doesn't take much pressure difference to add up to a lot of force

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

JEEZE - *I'm* more amazed that THEY were so amazed at what happened - we had experiments and demonstrations on the forces generated by differential pressures in heat/cool cycles and closed containers clear back in grade school!



Those fellas musta played hooky from school that day...

 

[Rambling]

WOW!! Shows you what a little air pressure will do!

 

[Max340]

A friend of mine works at AC&F where they make tankers like the ones in those photos. I told him of the pics and he was quite amused by my description. Once I print them out I am sure he will get a good chuckle.



Compare the basic physics that collapsed the car with the complex machines that formed it and the wonder of natural forces never cease to amaze.

 

[John]

hypothesis?

I was thinking more along the lines of a bionic Monica for a hypothesis.



Hoowah!

 

[Dkevdog]

I wonder how they explained that one to the insurance company... ... ... ... ... ...



Kev