Playing with fire (don't try this at home)

[SWortham]

I didn't have much to do during my Labor Day vacation. And my brother walked by my room, and said, "Hey, you wanna see something cool?" I've seen him do this before, but this time I took pictures. :D

http://www.gldomain.com/pics/2literfire/pict0104_800px.jpg
http://www.gldomain.com/pics/2literfire/

[dragonfighter60]

I like the pic.... What exactly did you do?

[CarbonGT]

Toilet bowl cleaner and aluminum foil makes a good boom, sometimes a very good boom but its defiantly not as fun to look at.

[SWortham]

I like the pic.... What exactly did you do?

Heheh, I didn't really explain it on that page 'cause I didn't want people to set themselves on fire trying to do this. But since you asked...

He poured a little rubbing alcohol into the 2-liter bottle and then closed the cap & shook it up. The alcohol/air mixture becomes atomized and then you can open the cap and hold a lighter just above the bottle. And then the fumes are ignited and you'll get a big flame like that and then it blows itself out.

We also used an air compressor to replenish the air each time. The air has to be very fresh inside the bottle for it to work properly.

[tharptroy]

you see, now im going to try this at home. I used to do this, but was too young to think to atomize the fuel. nice one

[carbonman]

thats a VERY cool picture man

[obsidiangls]

After seeing that picture I wanted to share one of my own. This is what I do at work :)

http://www.people.vcu.edu/~selshall/images/LVCC.jpg

The green light is from a Nd-YAG laser which is vaporizing a metal target.

[dragonfighter60]

:eek2: Man, I wish I could play with pretty green lights while I was at work. :D I never thought about LASER welding before.

[Seinster]

Wow that laser picture is amazing!

What are the two vertical strips (inside the chamber?) that are glowing an intense white?

[kylemorg]

Gee, I'm going to try the alcohol-bottle AND the laser stuff at MY house.

Let's see... all I need is a bottle, some rubbing alcohol, and a Nd-YAG laser! :eek:

[obsidiangls]

One of the white objects is the plasma generated on the metal target the other is its reflection.