Question

An empty soda can with some amount of water inside is heated to steaming and quickly inverted into an ice water bath. As a result of heating the can is instantly crushed. Identify the possible reason of this.

• A. Energy in the can is lost
• B. Water vapor condenses leaving a vacuum, which sucks the can in
• C. Water vapor condenses and outside air pressure crushes the can
• D. The cold water shrinks the hot can
• E. Water pressure in the ice bath crushes the can

Answer 1

The correct option is C Water vapor condenses and outside air pressure crushes the can

As soon as the temperature of the can drops due to being placed in the ice bath, the pressure inside the can decreases since the water vapors inside the can condense to liquid water.

As a result, the outside pressure becomes larger than the one inside and resultant air pressure difference exerts a force on can to crush it.