Soda pop Geyser
Abstract
The goal of this experiment is to see what brand or flavor of soda makes the highest geyser. We are also going to find out the lowest amount of Mentos that makes the highest geyser.
Theory
For this experiment to work there are going to be four main factors at work which are going to be; Henry’s law, Surface Tension, Surfactants, and Nucleation. Henry's law is one of the gas laws formulated by William Henry in 1803. It states that: The solubility of a gas in a liquid is directly proportional to the partial pressure of the gas above the liquid. Surface Tension is the thin film on top of a liquid that allows things to float on it, even though they are denser. Surfactants are compounds that lower the surface tension of a liquid. Nucleation is the extremely localized budding of a distinct thermodynamic phase.
Henry’s law takes place in causing the geyser due to the fact that when the pressure in the bottle suddenly drops then it causes the gas in the bottle to rise; dropping the Mentos in the bottle causes the same effect but very rapidly and fast. Surface Tension has a part in it but it goes along the lines of the surfactants. Surfactants has a big part in the geyser by making the surface tension denser so when the Mentos start the reaction the soda doesn’t splash everywhere it causes the fizz to join together and launch out. Nucleation is what happens as soon as you drop the Mentos in the soda, as soon as the Mentos hit the soda they cause massive amounts of gas bubbles to form then blast out of the bottle, thus creating a soda pop geyser.
Procedures
* Make a device that can be used to drop the Mentos at the same time every time you test it.
* Get a 2 liter bottle of soda and Mentos. (any brand or any flavor you want)
* Set up the bottle and remove the cap.
* Drop the Mentos and back away from the bottle.
* Watch the geyser form.
* Repeat the process and keep adding 1 Mentos until you find the...