Mythbusting, Tuesday, Period 2
Tyler smiled slightly at his class as they assembled. No lab supplies were in evidence, just a TV at the front of the room. "Morning. We're just watching a video here and then we're going outside for the experiment -- the Diet Coke-Mentos eruption."
He cued up a DVD player at the front of class. "This is an episode of Mythbusters --- yes, the show I named the clas for -- showing the science behind what we're going to do. I would have a lecture, but I wouldn't say anything the magic box won't already tell you. These guys are good."
The episode played, explaining that the reaction, in which Mentos dropped into a bottle of Diet Coke produce a fountain as tall as a person, is a product of the caffeine, potassium benzoate, aspartame, and carbon dioxide in the Diet Coke and the gelatin and gum arabic in the Mentos, as well as the rough surface of the candies.
When it was over, Tyler turned off the TV. "And now, you get to do this yourself. Grab a buddy and we're going outside. I have Mentos, Certs, M&Ms, Skittles, Diet Coke, regular Coke, and plain soda water, plus Diet Pepsi, so you can play around and see what makes the best fountain."
He cued up a DVD player at the front of class. "This is an episode of Mythbusters --- yes, the show I named the clas for -- showing the science behind what we're going to do. I would have a lecture, but I wouldn't say anything the magic box won't already tell you. These guys are good."
The episode played, explaining that the reaction, in which Mentos dropped into a bottle of Diet Coke produce a fountain as tall as a person, is a product of the caffeine, potassium benzoate, aspartame, and carbon dioxide in the Diet Coke and the gelatin and gum arabic in the Mentos, as well as the rough surface of the candies.
When it was over, Tyler turned off the TV. "And now, you get to do this yourself. Grab a buddy and we're going outside. I have Mentos, Certs, M&Ms, Skittles, Diet Coke, regular Coke, and plain soda water, plus Diet Pepsi, so you can play around and see what makes the best fountain."