Street Science (2017–…): Season 1, Episode 5 - Fire Vortex - full transcript
Kevin and his team of science experts head to the streets to show what it takes to build a vortex cannon that can pump out a ring of fire. Later, they transform everyday objects into explosive fireballs.
Delaney: THAT WAS A LOT OF
FUN, EXCEPT FOR ONE PROBLEM.
THERE WAS NO FIRE INVOLVED.
FIRE IS FAST, HOT, AND DANGEROUS.
WE COULD HAVE A DETONATION.
3, 2, 1.
SO WE'RE HITTING THE STREET
WITH SOME BURNING QUESTIONS.
AS PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS,
WHICH ONE OF THESE TERRIFIES YOU THE MOST?
DARREN, ARE YOU READY?
- I AM READY TO GO, SIR.
HOW FLAMMABLE ARE THE
ITEMS IN YOUR MEDICINE CABINET?
AND CAN SOMETHING AS
SIMPLE AS COFFEE CREAMER
CAUSE A HUGE FIREBALL?
- WHY WOULD WE DO THAT?
- WELL, YOU'LL FIND OUT.
IT'S SO HOT, WE MAY NEED BACKUP.
MY NAME IS KEVIN DELANEY.
I'VE BEEN SHOWING OFF THE
MAGIC OF SCIENCE FOR YEARS,
EVERYWHERE FROM MUSEUMS
TO LATE-NIGHT TALK SHOWS.
SCIENCE IS ALL AROUND US,
AND I WANT THE WORLD TO SEE IT,
SO I'M COMBINING EVERYDAY ELEMENTS
IN WAYS THAT WILL BLOW YOUR MIND.
[ SCREAMING ]
I'VE GOT A TEAM OF EXPERTS
AND HIGH-TECH CAMERAS
THAT WILL REVEAL THE
SCIENCE THAT SURROUNDS US
IN WAYS YOU'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.
I'M TAKING SCIENCE TO THE STREETS.
THIS IS "STREET SCIENCE."
THE DISCOVERY OF FIRE HAS DONE
AMAZING THINGS FOR HUMANITY.
IT PROVIDES COMFORT IN THE
FORM OF WARMTH AND LIGHT,
AND THE ABILITY TO COOK FOODS
WAS A PIVOTAL STEP IN HUMAN EVOLUTION.
BUT IT ALSO HAS ITS DANGERS.
MANY HOUSEHOLD ITEMS CAN BE
HAZARDOUS IN THE WRONG HANDS,
SO WE'RE TAKING THEM TO THE RIGHT HANDS...
THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT,
ALONG WITH ENGINEER NICK HOUSEHOLDER
AND SLOW-MOTION EXPERT DARREN DYK.
WE'RE FEEDING THIS FIRE CONVERSATION
ONE EXPERIMENT AT A TIME.
PLENTY OF HOUSEHOLD LIQUIDS ARE FLAMMABLE.
AT THE TOP OF THE LIST IS
EVERYDAY RUBBING ALCOHOL,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS ISOPROPYL
ALCOHOL OR ISOPROPANOL.
IT'S A POWERFUL PRODUCT
FOR CLEANING A WOUND,
BUT WHEN IT IGNITES...
ITS COMBUSTIVE POWER SHINES THROUGH.
THIS IS A WHOOSH BOTTLE, AND
YOU'LL SEE WHY IN A SECOND.
SO, WE HAVE SOME 70% ISOPROPANOL.
THIS IS JUST RUBBING ALCOHOL
LIKE YOU BUY AT THE DRUGSTORE.
WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS POUR
SOME OF THIS ALCOHOL INTO OUR BOTTLE HERE,
AND WE'RE GONNA COAT
THE INSIDE OF THE BOTTLE.
IT'S GONNA START GASSING
OFF, AND ALL THOSE FUMES
ARE GONNA FILL THE BOTTLE.
I'M JUST GONNA 3-2-1, AND
THEN WE'LL HOPEFULLY SEE
THE WHOOSH BOTTLE DO WHAT IT DOES.
1, 2, 3.
-OH, WOW. -YEAH.
THERE YOU GO... THE WHOOSH BOTTLE.
♪♪
COATING THE INSIDE OF THE BOTTLE
ALLOWS THE ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL
TO EVAPORATE FROM A LARGE SURFACE,
CREATING A FLAMMABLE
VAPOR INSIDE THE BOTTLE.
FIRE SHOOTS OUT OF THE TOP OF THE BOTTLE
BECAUSE FLAMES ARE PUSHED BY EXPANDING GAS,
AND WHILE THE LIP OF THE
BOTTLE CAN MELT, IT DOESN'T HERE
BECAUSE THE REACTION IS SO FAST.
THE FIRE GOES OUT BEFORE IT GETS HOT ENOUGH
TO START MELTING THE PLASTIC.
LET'S SEE HOW CHANGING UP
THE CONCENTRATION OF EACH ALCOHOL
AFFECTS THE HEAT OF THE FLAMES
AND HOW FAST THEY WILL BURN.
CAN I HAVE THREE OF YOU ALL COME FORWARD,
AND WE'LL HAVE A LITTLE
BIT OF A COMPETITION.
ALL RIGHT, COOL.
SO EVERYBODY KIND OF
STAND BEHIND THE BOTTLE.
SO WE HAVE THREE DIFFERENT
CONCENTRATIONS OF ALCOHOL.
THESE FIRST TWO ARE
ISOPROPANOL, 70%, AND THEN 90%.
NOW, DOWN THERE, WE HAVE 100% ETHANOL.
THERE'S ALMOST NO WATER IN ETHANOL,
SO THAT SHOULD PRODUCE
A DIFFERENT REACTION.
I THINK I'M SET UP TO LOSE
'CAUSE I THINK MINE'S GONNA
BURN A LITTLE BIT SLOWER.
WHY DO YOU THINK IT'S GONNA BURN SLOWER?
I THINK BECAUSE IT HAS A LITTLE
BIT MORE WATER THAN THEIRS DO.
I'M THE FIRE MARSHAL, SO I'M
ON THE PREVENTION SIDE OF THIS.
SO NORMALLY I'M NOT
STARTING THINGS ON FIRE,
I'M PREVENTING THEM FROM HAPPENING.
SO THIS PART, AND GETTING TO SEE THIS
AND ACTUALLY DO IT IS REALLY COOL FOR ME.
HERE WE COME IN THE
MIDDLE. EVERYBODY READY?
3, 2, 1, GO.
♪♪
Delaney: THE ONE ON THE END
BURNED REALLY, REALLY QUICKLY.
THE PURE ETHANOL BURNS
THE FASTEST AND THE HOTTEST,
WHILE THE 90% BURNS THE LONGEST.
THE 70% BURNS THE BRIGHTEST.
Woman: UNFORTUNATELY, I
STARTED A LITTLE BIT QUICKER
THAN THE OTHER ONES,
SO HOPEFULLY NOBODY THINKS I CHEATED.
Dyk: THIS FLIR CAMERA SHOT
IS ACTUALLY REALLY COOL.
YOU CAN SEE A REALLY
FAST, DRAMATIC SPIKE OF FIRE,
AND IT ACTUALLY CREATES
KIND OF A RAINBOW EFFECT
FROM THE DIFFERENT LAYERS OF HEAT.
IN THIS CASE, THE WHITE AND RED COLORS
INDICATE HOT TEMPERATURES,
UP TO AROUND 320 DEGREES.
YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE THAT THE
100% ETHANOL IS THE HOTTEST,
BUT THE FLAME ALSO GOES OUT THE QUICKEST.
Delaney: THE TWO MIXTURES WITH WATER
ACTUALLY BURN LONGER THAN THE PURE FUEL.
THE VARYING CONCENTRATIONS
OF ALCOHOL DETERMINE THE SPEED
AND THE INTENSITY OF THE REACTION.
THE 70% ISOPROPANOL BURNS THE BRIGHTEST.
THE YELLOW COLOR IS INDICATIVE
OF INCOMPLETE COMBUSTION
AND UNBURNED CARBON.
THESE BITS OF CARBON GET HOT AND GLOW.
THE 90% ALCOHOL SOLUTION BURNS THE LONGEST
BECAUSE THERE'S MORE
FUEL TO BURN THAN THE 70%.
AND THE 100% PURE
ETHANOL BURNS THE FASTEST.
ETHANOL ONLY CONTAINS TWO
CARBON ATOMS PER MOLECULE.
THE LIGHTER WEIGHT CAUSES
IT TO EVAPORATE QUICKLY
AND MIX WITH THE AIR, BURNING FASTER.
WE'VE SEEN HOW SOME HOUSEHOLD CHEMICALS
BEHAVE WHEN IGNITED.
NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT A
POTENTIALLY MORE FLAMMABLE FUEL.
WE'RE NOT GONNA BE USING
ALCOHOL AS OUR FUEL THIS TIME.
WE'RE GONNA BE USING GASOLINE.
FLAMMABLE OR COMBUSTIBLE
LIQUIDS LIKE GASOLINE DO NOT BURN.
IT'S THE MIX OF THEIR VAPORS
AND OXYGEN IN THE AIR THAT BURNS.
WE'RE GOING TO BE ACTUALLY
PUMPING OXYGEN INTO IT.
WE DON'T WANT TO STAND TOO CLOSE TO IT.
IF ANY KIND OF STATIC CHARGE
OR ANY AMOUNT OF FRICTION WERE TO OCCUR,
WE COULD HAVE A DETONATION.
OUR WHOOSH BOTTLE IS
FACING THE ULTIMATE TEST.
THIS TIME WE'RE FILLING IT
WITH GASOLINE AND OXYGEN,
AND I HAVE A BATTERY CONNECTED TO IT
TO SEND ELECTRICITY
TO THE GAS TO IGNITE IT.
GOOD LUCK, WHOOSH BOTTLE.
YOU GUYS READY?
-READY. -OH, YEAH.
3, 2, 1.
Delaney: WE'RE HITTING THE
STREETS TO TEST THE HEAT
AND FLAME SPEED OF A VARIETY OF CHEMICALS.
I'M ABOUT TO IGNITE
GASOLINE VAPORS AND OXYGEN.
YOU KNOW YOU HAVE A COMBUSTIBLE MIX
WHEN THE KIND OF CROWD YOU
DRAW IS THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT.
-YOU GUYS READY? -READY.
-OH, YEAH. -ALL RIGHT. CLEAR!
3, 2, 1.
WHOO!
♪♪
IT WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A WHOOSH.
WE'LL CALL THAT A "THWOOMP."
[ LAUGHTER ] -LIKE A "THWOOMP" BOTTLE.
OUR WHOOSH BOTTLE SHOWS HOW
A CAR'S COMBUSTION ENGINE WORKS.
GASOLINE OR ETHANOL COMES INTO THE ENGINE
AND MIXES WITH OXYGEN.
A SPARK FROM THE SPARK
PLUG LIGHTS THE MIXTURE,
CAUSING AN EXPLOSION.
THIS FORCES THE PISTON
OUT LIKE A CORK IN A BOTTLE.
THE PISTONS HELP TURN THE CRANKSHAFT,
WHICH TURNS THE WHEELS, WHICH, IN TURN,
MAKES THE CAR GO.
THE EXPLOSION IN OUR BOTTLE
IS LIKE A ONE-CYLINDER CAR ENGINE.
I SAW THE BLAST...
AND THE NEXT THING I KNEW,
THIS WAVE HIT ME RIGHT IN MY CHEST.
Delaney: WHOO!
DARREN, ARE YOU SATISFIED?
I AM, AND THEN WE CAN ACTUALLY
ANSWER SOME OF YOUR QUESTIONS
ABOUT WHERE IT BLEW UP AND
WHY WITH THE HIGH SPEED HERE.
-AWESOME. -LET'S CHECK IT OUT.
SO WHAT'S COOL IS YOU
GET THIS INITIAL REACTION
THAT'S SIMILAR TO WHAT WE SAW INSIDE,
AND IT JUST GOES HUGE.
IT HAS A RE-EXPLOSION...
-WOW! -...AFTER IT HITS.
AND, YEAH, LOOK.
IT WENT THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE HANDLE.
EXACTLY OPPOSITE OF THE HANDLE
IS WHERE THE EXPLOSION HAPPENED.
I THINK THE MAJOR TAKEAWAY
HERE IS YOU DON'T DO THIS AT HOME.
WE HAD A BUNCH OF
PROFESSIONALS THAT MADE SURE
THAT WE WEREN'T GONNA KILL OURSELVES HERE.
AND WE CAN MAKE IT LOOK
COOL WITH CRAZY-COOL CAMERAS.
SO, THERE'S THAT.
♪♪
Delaney: THAT EXPLOSION REALLY
MOVED THOSE AIR MOLECULES.
THE BOOM IS LOUD AND THE
SHOCK WAVE IS POWERFUL.
MOST PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHY IT MAKES NOISE,
BUT WHY THE SHOCK WAVE?
WE'RE GOING TO MAKE A
VORTEX GENERATOR TO FIND OUT.
THIS DEVICE WILL ALLOW US
TO EXAMINE THE PHYSICS OF MOVING AIR
SO WE CAN VISUALIZE WHAT WE ALL JUST FELT
FROM THE SHOCK WAVE.
OKAY, GUYS.
SO WE HAVE SOMETHING FUN FOR YOU.
NO FIRE... YET.
SO COME ON OVER HERE.
THESE TWO TRASH CANS
WE KIND OF MODIFIED A LITTLE BIT.
THIS HOMEMADE DEVICE IS PRETTY SIMPLE...
A 32-GALLON TRASH CAN WITH
A HOLE CUT IN THE BOTTOM
AND STRETCHY PLASTIC BOUND
TIGHTLY ON THE BACK OF IT...
NOT GREAT FOR COLLECTING GARBAGE,
BUT GREAT FOR A PRESSURE-WAVE EXPERIMENT.
WE'RE GONNA GIVE THE MEMBRANE A TAP,
AND WHEN WE FORCE AIR
OUT OF THAT LITTLE HOLE,
WE'RE GONNA CREATE THAT TOROIDAL VORTEX.
3, 2, 1. -THERE WE GO.
-THERE WE GO. -GOOD SHOT.
WHEN I TAPPED THE BACK OF THE CAN,
IT PUSHES A BURST OF AIR OUT OF THE HOLE.
THE AIR DISPLACES THE
SURROUNDING AIR OUTSIDE,
SWIRLING IT INTO AN INVISIBLE
DOUGHNUT-SHAPED RING
CALLED A TOROIDAL VORTEX.
THIS ACTION KNOCKS DOWN THE CUPS.
AND WHO DOESN'T LOVE DOUGHNUTS?
TO PROVE IT, CHRIS HAS A FOG MACHINE.
SO THIS IS JUST A LITTLE
BIT OF GLYCERIN FOG.
SO NOW WHEN I TAPE THE MEMBRANE BACK HERE,
WE CAN SEND THAT TOROIDAL VORTEX OUT.
TOROIDAL VORTICES ARE AMAZING.
THE VORTEX KEEPS ITS
DOUGHNUT SHAPE AS IT TRAVELS
FORWARD TOWARD THE CUPS
AND DOESN'T REQUIRE ANY INTERVENTION
TO FURTHER IT ALONG.
LET ME PUT IT ANOTHER WAY.
IF YOU BLOW HARD WITH YOUR MOUTH,
THE AIR DOESN'T TRAVEL FAR,
BUT IF YOU BLOW A SMOKE RING,
IT CAN TRAVEL ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE ROOM.
OUR VORTEX CANNON IS
MAKING THE SAME TYPE OF RING.
EXCEPT FOR ONE PROBLEM.
THERE WAS NO FIRE INVOLVED.
NICK AND OUR BUILDER, CHRIS,
ARE TRYING TO CREATE A
MEGA-FIRE-BREATHING CANNON
SO WE CAN SEE IF WE CAN MAKE
AN ACTUAL FLAMING VORTEX.
WE'RE GONNA FILL IT WITH A FLAMMABLE GAS,
AND WE HAVE A TORCH OVER THERE,
AND SO WE'RE GOING TO SEND
THAT VORTEX INTO THE TORCH.
SO NICK'S GONNA FILL IT WITH PROPANE.
WE'RE GONNA KEEP IT TILTED THIS WAY
BECAUSE PROPANE'S A
LITTLE BIT HEAVIER THAN AIR,
AND WE DON'T WANT IT TO POUR OUT.
AFTER NICK FILLS THE CANNON WITH PROPANE,
HE ADDS LIQUID FOG TO ALLOW US
TO SEE WHAT'S PROJECTING AT THE TORCH.
WE'LL USE THE CANNON TO FIRE THE PROPANE
TOWARDS THE LIT TORCH
AND SEE IF WE CAN LIGHT
THE PROPANE DOUGHNUT
AND MAKE A FIERY RING.
SO, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GONNA HAPPEN?
I THINK WE'RE GONNA GET A
PRETTY... PRETTY BIG FLAME.
LET'S HOPE SO, UNLESS WE
DID SOMETHING VERY WRONG.
[ LAUGHTER ]
DARREN IS SETTING UP SLOW-MOTION
CAMERAS AND THERMAL CAMERAS
SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO SEE
ANY HEAT DISTRIBUTION.
DARREN, ARE YOU READY?
- I AM READY TO GO, SIR.
EVERYBODY READY?
Delaney: WE'RE TAKING
SCIENCE TO THE STREETS.
AT THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT,
WE'RE ABOUT TO SEE WHAT A VORTEX CANNON
CAN DO WITH A LITTLE FIRE.
DARREN, ARE YOU READY?
- I AM READY TO GO, SIR.
EVERYBODY READY?
♪♪
-OH! -WOW.
Woman: I THOUGHT THE COOL PART WAS
ACTUALLY TO SEE THE PROGRESSION
FROM THE VORTEX TO THE FLAME.
♪♪
WHEN YOU'RE WATCHING THIS IN REAL TIME,
ALL YOU SEE IS AN ORANGE FLAME.
IT BURNS SO QUICKLY.
BUT WHEN YOU'RE
WATCHING THIS IN HIGH SPEED,
YOU CAN SEE A BLUE FLAME
ENCAPSULATE THE ORANGE FLAME,
'CAUSE THE PROPANE IS JUST BURNING SO FAST.
IT LOOKED REALLY COOL.
♪♪
Delaney: THE BLUE COLOR IN THE FLAME
IS INDICATIVE OF A COMPLETE
AND CLEAN COMBUSTION.
PROPANE IS A GASEOUS HYDROCARBON
AND BURNS RELATIVELY CLEANLY.
WHAT'S INTERESTING IS WHAT WE CAN'T SEE
WITH THE SLOW-MOTION CAMERA.
THANKS TO THE THERMAL CAM,
WE CAN ALL WITNESS A COMPLETE RING OF FIRE.
♪♪
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READY?
YEAH.
Householder: THE AIR
SHOOTS OUT OF THE CANNON
IN THAT NICE DOUGHNUT SHAPE,
SO THAT PROPANE TRAPPED INSIDE THAT VORTEX
WILL STAY IN THERE AND KEEP SWIRLING
ALL THE WAY OVER TO THE FLAME.
♪♪
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH
FOR LETTING US PLAY HERE.
Delaney: SO, IT'S NO SHOCK
THAT PROPANE FROM YOUR BACKYARD BARBECUE
PUTS OFF A BIG FLAME,
BUT THERE'S OTHER STUFF IN YOUR HOUSE
THAT'S SURPRISINGLY FLAMMABLE.
TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE,
I'M CHECKING IN WITH THE FIREFIGHTERS
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STATION.
HELLO, GENTLEMEN.
THANKS FOR HELPING ME OUT.
I WANT TO FIND OUT WHICH HOUSEHOLD ITEM
IS THE MOST DANGEROUS... PETROLEUM JELLY...
NAIL-POLISH REMOVER... OR STARTER FLUID.
SO WE'RE TALKING HOUSEHOLD FIRES TODAY.
SO WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MOST COMMON CAUSES
OF HOUSEHOLD FIRES THAT YOU ALL SEE?
ONE OF THE MOST COMMON ONES
THAT WE RUN ACROSS ARE DRYER FIRES...
BASICALLY WHEN PEOPLE
FORGET TO EMPTY THEIR LINT TRAP.
ANOTHER COMMON THING
WE RUN IS COOKING FIRES.
- OH, ABSOLUTELY.
- GREASE FIRES ON THE STOVE.
YEAH, BECAUSE IF YOU PUT WATER ON IT,
IT'S NOT GONNA GET ANY BETTER. -ABSOLUTELY.
WELL, WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF HOUSEHOLD ITEMS
THAT WE'RE GOING TO SET ON FIRE HERE,
AND WE WANTED TO TRY
TO TEST SOME OF THIS STUFF
UNDER YOUR SUPERVISION
SO WE'RE NICE AND SAFE.
OKAY, GUYS. I WANT EACH ONE
OF YOU TO COME TO YOUR STATION
AND SPRAY, POUR, OR SMEAR
WHATEVER MATERIALS YOU HAVE HERE,
AND THEN WE'LL LIGHT THEM ON FIRE.
-SOUNDS GOOD. -SOUNDS GOOD.
ALL RIGHT.
SO WHICH ONE OF THESE DO YOU THINK
IS GONNA HAVE THE MOST VIGOROUS REACTION?
WE'RE GONNA GO WITH STARTER FLUID.
STARTER FLUID? THAT'S PROBABLY A SAFE BET.
THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY TO KNOW.
THERE ARE THREE FIRES YOU DO
NOT WANT TO HAVE IN YOUR HOME.
THE ACETONE'S LOOKING PRETTY ENERGETIC.
WELL, THE STARTER FLUID
BURNED OUT RIGHT AWAY.
IT REALLY GASSED OFF
VERY QUICKLY, AND IT'S GONE.
AND THE ACETONE LOOKS
LIKE IT'S ON ITS WAY OUT, TOO,
BUT THE PETROLEUM'S STILL GOING VERY,
VERY ENERGETICALLY, SO...
Delaney: THAT'S BECAUSE IT'S
A DERIVATIVE OF PETROLEUM.
THE PETROLEUM JELLY
IS BURNING LIKE A CANDLE
WITH A COTTON BALL ACTING AS THE WICK.
THIS ALLOWS IT TO BURN LONGER,
BUT THE NAIL-POLISH REMOVER
AND STARTER FLUID BURN
OFF MUCH MORE QUICKLY.
AS PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS,
WHICH ONE OF THESE TERRIFIES
YOU THE MOST? -THE PETROLEUM JELLY.
THAT PETROLEUM JELLY
IS GONNA STICK TO THINGS
AND CREATE MORE OF A FIRE PROBLEM.
YEAH, WHEREAS THESE TWO
WILL EVENTUALLY KIND OF
BURN THEMSELVES OUT A LITTLE BIT.
THIS ONE HAD NO INTENTION OF
GOING OUT UNTIL WE PUT IT OUT.
-ABSOLUTELY. -SO YOU GOT TO BE CAREFUL.
-ALWAYS. -WELL, THANK YOU, GUYS,
VERY, VERY MUCH FOR
HELPING US WITH THIS TEST.
MAY I KEEP THE JACKET?
- OF COURSE. ABSOLUTELY.
EXCELLENT. YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME.
Delaney: WE'RE EXPLORING
THE SURPRISING FLAMMABILITY
OF EVERYDAY HOUSEHOLD MATERIALS,
BUT THERE'S A POTENTIAL
FIRE IN YOUR KITCHEN
THAT WILL SURPRISE YOU EVEN MORE...
COFFEE CREAMER.
HOW COULD SOMETHING AS BASIC
AS COFFEE CREAMER BE DANGEROUS?
DARREN AND I STEP OUTSIDE THE FIREHOUSE
TO FIND OUT WHY THE COFFEE CREAMER
COULD BE A RECIPE FOR DISASTER.
-SO, KEVIN, THAT'S AWESOME. -YEAH.
Dyk: WHAT KIND OF INSANITY
YOU GOT GOING FOR US TODAY?
INSANITY? THIS IS ALL VERY REASONABLE.
AND THIS IS WHAT THEY CALL THE RED DRAGON.
THE RED DRAGON.
IT'S A TORCH THAT THEY USE
TO BURN OFF PROPANE SPILLS.
I THOUGHT MAYBE WE COULD COME HERE
AND MAKE OUR OWN VERSION OF THE RED DRAGON,
BUT INSTEAD OF GAS, WE'RE GONNA
BE USING AN EDIBLE SUBSTANCE.
-LET'S GO DO THAT. -ALL RIGHT.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS USED
TO MANAGING FLAME SAFELY,
SO THIS IS A GREAT PLACE TO EXPERIMENT
WITH A WEIRD WAY OF MAKING FIRE.
COREY DIERDORFF, A FIRE OFFICIAL,
IS HERE, ALONG WITH OUR ENGINEER, NICK.
THAT RED DRAGON TORCH IS AMAZING.
- IT'S PRETTY AWESOME.
- IT'S PRETTY COOL. -REALLY COOL.
SO WE'RE GONNA DO OUR OWN VERSION OF IT,
BUT WE'RE NOT GONNA USE GAS.
WE'RE ACTUALLY GONNA USE NON-DAIRY CREAMER.
-REALLY? -YEAH.
- WHY WOULD WE DO THAT?
- WELL, YOU'LL FIND OUT.
OKAY.
Delaney: NON-DAIRY CREAMER SEEMS LIKE
YOUR RUN-OF-THE-MILL FOOD PRODUCT.
SO HOW COULD IT FUEL A FIRE?
SO, EACH ONE OF YOU HAS A
BUCKET WITH A HOSE ATTACHED,
AND THERE'S A SPARKLER
INSIDE. SO YOU HAVE A LIGHTER.
SO WHAT I'M GONNA ASK YOU
TO DO IS LIGHT THE SPARKLER,
AND THEN WHEN I GIVE
YOU THE 3-2-1 COUNTDOWN,
JUST BLOW INTO THE END OF THAT TUBE.
AND WHAT YOU WANT IS YOU
WANT TO PUSH AS MUCH AIR
AS YOU CAN IN AS SHORT
AMOUNT OF TIME AS POSSIBLE.
-YEAH. -ALL RIGHT.
SO WE RACING HERE, OR WHAT ARE WE...?
-NO, YOU DON'T HAVE TO RACE. -HO, HO, HO.
I WANT TO SEE WHO GETS THE BIGGEST FLAME.
-I'M JUST SAYING. -ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT.
- I'M FEELING PRETTY CONFIDENT.
- I BELIEVE IT.
I HEARD YOU USED TO BE A TRUMPET PLAYER,
SO I FEEL LIKE I'M A LITTLE OUTMATCHED.
I WAS TOLD I HAD A TRUMPET FACE.
ALL RIGHT. I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT MEANS.
BUT IT MEANS THERE'S A SPIT
VALVE THERE SOMEWHERE, WHICH...
OKAY.
SO, SAFETY GOGGLES? -CHECK.
GENTLEMEN, PICK UP YOUR LIGHTERS.
GO AHEAD AND LIGHT YOUR SPARKLERS.
Delaney: SO WE'VE GOT A
BUCKET OF POWDERED CREAMER
WITH A BURNING CANDLE AND A SPARKLER INSIDE
TO HELP LIGHT THE PARTICLES.
THIS MIGHT WORK. -GRAB YOUR HOSE.
SO ON THE COUNT OF
THREE, WE'LL SEE WHO WINS.
THIS IS GONNA BE FUN. I'M EXCITED.
3, 2, 1.
Delaney: WE'RE TAKING
SCIENCE TO THE STREETS,
AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE AT THE
LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT TESTING OUT
HOW DANGEROUS POWDERED
COFFEE CREAMER CAN BE.
COREY AND NICK WILL
FACE OFF IN A COMPETITION.
WHEN I GIVE YOU THE 3-2-1 COUNTDOWN,
JUST BLOW INTO THE END OF THAT TUBE.
3, 2, 1.
-WOW. -THAT WAS AWESOME.
-COREY, YOU WON. -THAT WAS AMAZING.
-THAT WAS AWESOME. -YOU DEFINITELY WON.
♪♪
Delaney: SO COREY AND NICK
BLOW INTO THE CREAMER,
CAUSING IT TO ATOMIZE INTO THE AIR,
AND AS WE CAN SEE ON
DARREN'S HIGH-SPEED CAMERA,
THE RESULTS ARE COMBUSTIVE.
COFFEE CREAMER WILL ONLY
IGNITE IF DISPERSED INTO THE AIR.
POWDERED COFFEE CREAMER
ALSO CONTAINS FLAMMABLE FATS
THAT OXIDIZE EASILY.
A YELLOW FLAME LIKE THIS
COULD GET AS HOT AS
1,800 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.
Dyk: SO WHAT WE'RE
ESSENTIALLY LOOKING AT HERE
IS A DUST EXPLOSION.
AS THE COFFEE CREAMER
IS SHOT UP INTO THE SKY,
THE FIRE TRAILS IT,
AND IT FEEDS OFF OF ALL THE OXYGEN
IN BETWEEN THE COFFEE-CREAMER
PARTICLES AND CREATES
THAT BIG MUSHROOM CLOUD.
IT'S ACTUALLY SURPRISING HOW MUCH FIRE
IS PRODUCED FROM SUCH A
SMALL AMOUNT OF MATERIAL.
-WHAT DO YOU THINK? -THAT WAS INCREDIBLE.
YOU KNOW, IT WAS SOMETHING
I REALLY DIDN'T EXPECT,
ESPECIALLY OUT OF SOMETHING
THAT YOU JUST PUT IN YOUR COFFEE.
YEAH. THOSE LITTLE PARTICLES
OF NON-DAIRY CREAMER
HAVE A HIGH FAT CONTENT,
SO THEY BURN REALLY,
REALLY EASILY, BUT THEY NEED OXYGEN.
SO WHEN YOU BLEW THROUGH THE TUBE,
YOU WERE DISPERSING A LOT OF OXYGEN
AND SEPARATING THE PARTICLES,
AND THAT OXYGEN ALLOWED THEM
TO BURN REALLY, REALLY EASILY,
AND SO WE GOT A BIG CLOUD OF FIRE.
WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, YOU ALWAYS HEAR
ABOUT THE SMALLER THE PARTICLES,
THE FASTER THEY BURN
AND THE HOTTER THEY BURN,
BUT TO SEE SOMETHING THAT
YOU PUT IN YOUR EVERYDAY COFFEE,
AND THE REACTION THAT IT
CAUSED WAS REALLY COOL.
A LONG TIME AGO, THERE USED TO BE
A LOT OF COMMON FIRES IN BREAD FACTORIES
AND GRAIN SILOS AND THINGS LIKE THAT,
AND IT'S BECAUSE OF THIS KIND OF PARTICLE.
GUYS, IT'S INCREDIBLE.
HAVE YOU EVER HAD ANY EXPERIENCES WITH,
LIKE, DUST FIRES OR, LIKE,
LINT IN THE AIR CAUSING FIRES?
OH, ABSOLUTELY. THE SMALLER THE PARTICLES,
LIKE YOU GUYS SAID, THE
FASTER THAT IT BURNS,
AND THE HOTTER THAT IT BURNS. -YEAH.
Delaney: SMALL PARTICLES
OF COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL
MIXED WITH OXYGEN IN THE AIR,
CREATING OUR HUMAN-POWERED FIREBALLS.
WELL, I THINK YOU WON.
NICELY DONE. -WHY, THANK YOU, SIR.
YOU ALSO COMPETED. THAT'S A FACT.
DO I GET A PARTICIPATION TROPHY?
NO.
FUN, EXCEPT FOR ONE PROBLEM.
THERE WAS NO FIRE INVOLVED.
FIRE IS FAST, HOT, AND DANGEROUS.
WE COULD HAVE A DETONATION.
3, 2, 1.
SO WE'RE HITTING THE STREET
WITH SOME BURNING QUESTIONS.
AS PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS,
WHICH ONE OF THESE TERRIFIES YOU THE MOST?
DARREN, ARE YOU READY?
- I AM READY TO GO, SIR.
HOW FLAMMABLE ARE THE
ITEMS IN YOUR MEDICINE CABINET?
AND CAN SOMETHING AS
SIMPLE AS COFFEE CREAMER
CAUSE A HUGE FIREBALL?
- WHY WOULD WE DO THAT?
- WELL, YOU'LL FIND OUT.
IT'S SO HOT, WE MAY NEED BACKUP.
MY NAME IS KEVIN DELANEY.
I'VE BEEN SHOWING OFF THE
MAGIC OF SCIENCE FOR YEARS,
EVERYWHERE FROM MUSEUMS
TO LATE-NIGHT TALK SHOWS.
SCIENCE IS ALL AROUND US,
AND I WANT THE WORLD TO SEE IT,
SO I'M COMBINING EVERYDAY ELEMENTS
IN WAYS THAT WILL BLOW YOUR MIND.
[ SCREAMING ]
I'VE GOT A TEAM OF EXPERTS
AND HIGH-TECH CAMERAS
THAT WILL REVEAL THE
SCIENCE THAT SURROUNDS US
IN WAYS YOU'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.
I'M TAKING SCIENCE TO THE STREETS.
THIS IS "STREET SCIENCE."
THE DISCOVERY OF FIRE HAS DONE
AMAZING THINGS FOR HUMANITY.
IT PROVIDES COMFORT IN THE
FORM OF WARMTH AND LIGHT,
AND THE ABILITY TO COOK FOODS
WAS A PIVOTAL STEP IN HUMAN EVOLUTION.
BUT IT ALSO HAS ITS DANGERS.
MANY HOUSEHOLD ITEMS CAN BE
HAZARDOUS IN THE WRONG HANDS,
SO WE'RE TAKING THEM TO THE RIGHT HANDS...
THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT,
ALONG WITH ENGINEER NICK HOUSEHOLDER
AND SLOW-MOTION EXPERT DARREN DYK.
WE'RE FEEDING THIS FIRE CONVERSATION
ONE EXPERIMENT AT A TIME.
PLENTY OF HOUSEHOLD LIQUIDS ARE FLAMMABLE.
AT THE TOP OF THE LIST IS
EVERYDAY RUBBING ALCOHOL,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS ISOPROPYL
ALCOHOL OR ISOPROPANOL.
IT'S A POWERFUL PRODUCT
FOR CLEANING A WOUND,
BUT WHEN IT IGNITES...
ITS COMBUSTIVE POWER SHINES THROUGH.
THIS IS A WHOOSH BOTTLE, AND
YOU'LL SEE WHY IN A SECOND.
SO, WE HAVE SOME 70% ISOPROPANOL.
THIS IS JUST RUBBING ALCOHOL
LIKE YOU BUY AT THE DRUGSTORE.
WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS POUR
SOME OF THIS ALCOHOL INTO OUR BOTTLE HERE,
AND WE'RE GONNA COAT
THE INSIDE OF THE BOTTLE.
IT'S GONNA START GASSING
OFF, AND ALL THOSE FUMES
ARE GONNA FILL THE BOTTLE.
I'M JUST GONNA 3-2-1, AND
THEN WE'LL HOPEFULLY SEE
THE WHOOSH BOTTLE DO WHAT IT DOES.
1, 2, 3.
-OH, WOW. -YEAH.
THERE YOU GO... THE WHOOSH BOTTLE.
♪♪
COATING THE INSIDE OF THE BOTTLE
ALLOWS THE ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL
TO EVAPORATE FROM A LARGE SURFACE,
CREATING A FLAMMABLE
VAPOR INSIDE THE BOTTLE.
FIRE SHOOTS OUT OF THE TOP OF THE BOTTLE
BECAUSE FLAMES ARE PUSHED BY EXPANDING GAS,
AND WHILE THE LIP OF THE
BOTTLE CAN MELT, IT DOESN'T HERE
BECAUSE THE REACTION IS SO FAST.
THE FIRE GOES OUT BEFORE IT GETS HOT ENOUGH
TO START MELTING THE PLASTIC.
LET'S SEE HOW CHANGING UP
THE CONCENTRATION OF EACH ALCOHOL
AFFECTS THE HEAT OF THE FLAMES
AND HOW FAST THEY WILL BURN.
CAN I HAVE THREE OF YOU ALL COME FORWARD,
AND WE'LL HAVE A LITTLE
BIT OF A COMPETITION.
ALL RIGHT, COOL.
SO EVERYBODY KIND OF
STAND BEHIND THE BOTTLE.
SO WE HAVE THREE DIFFERENT
CONCENTRATIONS OF ALCOHOL.
THESE FIRST TWO ARE
ISOPROPANOL, 70%, AND THEN 90%.
NOW, DOWN THERE, WE HAVE 100% ETHANOL.
THERE'S ALMOST NO WATER IN ETHANOL,
SO THAT SHOULD PRODUCE
A DIFFERENT REACTION.
I THINK I'M SET UP TO LOSE
'CAUSE I THINK MINE'S GONNA
BURN A LITTLE BIT SLOWER.
WHY DO YOU THINK IT'S GONNA BURN SLOWER?
I THINK BECAUSE IT HAS A LITTLE
BIT MORE WATER THAN THEIRS DO.
I'M THE FIRE MARSHAL, SO I'M
ON THE PREVENTION SIDE OF THIS.
SO NORMALLY I'M NOT
STARTING THINGS ON FIRE,
I'M PREVENTING THEM FROM HAPPENING.
SO THIS PART, AND GETTING TO SEE THIS
AND ACTUALLY DO IT IS REALLY COOL FOR ME.
HERE WE COME IN THE
MIDDLE. EVERYBODY READY?
3, 2, 1, GO.
♪♪
Delaney: THE ONE ON THE END
BURNED REALLY, REALLY QUICKLY.
THE PURE ETHANOL BURNS
THE FASTEST AND THE HOTTEST,
WHILE THE 90% BURNS THE LONGEST.
THE 70% BURNS THE BRIGHTEST.
Woman: UNFORTUNATELY, I
STARTED A LITTLE BIT QUICKER
THAN THE OTHER ONES,
SO HOPEFULLY NOBODY THINKS I CHEATED.
Dyk: THIS FLIR CAMERA SHOT
IS ACTUALLY REALLY COOL.
YOU CAN SEE A REALLY
FAST, DRAMATIC SPIKE OF FIRE,
AND IT ACTUALLY CREATES
KIND OF A RAINBOW EFFECT
FROM THE DIFFERENT LAYERS OF HEAT.
IN THIS CASE, THE WHITE AND RED COLORS
INDICATE HOT TEMPERATURES,
UP TO AROUND 320 DEGREES.
YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE THAT THE
100% ETHANOL IS THE HOTTEST,
BUT THE FLAME ALSO GOES OUT THE QUICKEST.
Delaney: THE TWO MIXTURES WITH WATER
ACTUALLY BURN LONGER THAN THE PURE FUEL.
THE VARYING CONCENTRATIONS
OF ALCOHOL DETERMINE THE SPEED
AND THE INTENSITY OF THE REACTION.
THE 70% ISOPROPANOL BURNS THE BRIGHTEST.
THE YELLOW COLOR IS INDICATIVE
OF INCOMPLETE COMBUSTION
AND UNBURNED CARBON.
THESE BITS OF CARBON GET HOT AND GLOW.
THE 90% ALCOHOL SOLUTION BURNS THE LONGEST
BECAUSE THERE'S MORE
FUEL TO BURN THAN THE 70%.
AND THE 100% PURE
ETHANOL BURNS THE FASTEST.
ETHANOL ONLY CONTAINS TWO
CARBON ATOMS PER MOLECULE.
THE LIGHTER WEIGHT CAUSES
IT TO EVAPORATE QUICKLY
AND MIX WITH THE AIR, BURNING FASTER.
WE'VE SEEN HOW SOME HOUSEHOLD CHEMICALS
BEHAVE WHEN IGNITED.
NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT A
POTENTIALLY MORE FLAMMABLE FUEL.
WE'RE NOT GONNA BE USING
ALCOHOL AS OUR FUEL THIS TIME.
WE'RE GONNA BE USING GASOLINE.
FLAMMABLE OR COMBUSTIBLE
LIQUIDS LIKE GASOLINE DO NOT BURN.
IT'S THE MIX OF THEIR VAPORS
AND OXYGEN IN THE AIR THAT BURNS.
WE'RE GOING TO BE ACTUALLY
PUMPING OXYGEN INTO IT.
WE DON'T WANT TO STAND TOO CLOSE TO IT.
IF ANY KIND OF STATIC CHARGE
OR ANY AMOUNT OF FRICTION WERE TO OCCUR,
WE COULD HAVE A DETONATION.
OUR WHOOSH BOTTLE IS
FACING THE ULTIMATE TEST.
THIS TIME WE'RE FILLING IT
WITH GASOLINE AND OXYGEN,
AND I HAVE A BATTERY CONNECTED TO IT
TO SEND ELECTRICITY
TO THE GAS TO IGNITE IT.
GOOD LUCK, WHOOSH BOTTLE.
YOU GUYS READY?
-READY. -OH, YEAH.
3, 2, 1.
Delaney: WE'RE HITTING THE
STREETS TO TEST THE HEAT
AND FLAME SPEED OF A VARIETY OF CHEMICALS.
I'M ABOUT TO IGNITE
GASOLINE VAPORS AND OXYGEN.
YOU KNOW YOU HAVE A COMBUSTIBLE MIX
WHEN THE KIND OF CROWD YOU
DRAW IS THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT.
-YOU GUYS READY? -READY.
-OH, YEAH. -ALL RIGHT. CLEAR!
3, 2, 1.
WHOO!
♪♪
IT WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A WHOOSH.
WE'LL CALL THAT A "THWOOMP."
[ LAUGHTER ] -LIKE A "THWOOMP" BOTTLE.
OUR WHOOSH BOTTLE SHOWS HOW
A CAR'S COMBUSTION ENGINE WORKS.
GASOLINE OR ETHANOL COMES INTO THE ENGINE
AND MIXES WITH OXYGEN.
A SPARK FROM THE SPARK
PLUG LIGHTS THE MIXTURE,
CAUSING AN EXPLOSION.
THIS FORCES THE PISTON
OUT LIKE A CORK IN A BOTTLE.
THE PISTONS HELP TURN THE CRANKSHAFT,
WHICH TURNS THE WHEELS, WHICH, IN TURN,
MAKES THE CAR GO.
THE EXPLOSION IN OUR BOTTLE
IS LIKE A ONE-CYLINDER CAR ENGINE.
I SAW THE BLAST...
AND THE NEXT THING I KNEW,
THIS WAVE HIT ME RIGHT IN MY CHEST.
Delaney: WHOO!
DARREN, ARE YOU SATISFIED?
I AM, AND THEN WE CAN ACTUALLY
ANSWER SOME OF YOUR QUESTIONS
ABOUT WHERE IT BLEW UP AND
WHY WITH THE HIGH SPEED HERE.
-AWESOME. -LET'S CHECK IT OUT.
SO WHAT'S COOL IS YOU
GET THIS INITIAL REACTION
THAT'S SIMILAR TO WHAT WE SAW INSIDE,
AND IT JUST GOES HUGE.
IT HAS A RE-EXPLOSION...
-WOW! -...AFTER IT HITS.
AND, YEAH, LOOK.
IT WENT THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE HANDLE.
EXACTLY OPPOSITE OF THE HANDLE
IS WHERE THE EXPLOSION HAPPENED.
I THINK THE MAJOR TAKEAWAY
HERE IS YOU DON'T DO THIS AT HOME.
WE HAD A BUNCH OF
PROFESSIONALS THAT MADE SURE
THAT WE WEREN'T GONNA KILL OURSELVES HERE.
AND WE CAN MAKE IT LOOK
COOL WITH CRAZY-COOL CAMERAS.
SO, THERE'S THAT.
♪♪
Delaney: THAT EXPLOSION REALLY
MOVED THOSE AIR MOLECULES.
THE BOOM IS LOUD AND THE
SHOCK WAVE IS POWERFUL.
MOST PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHY IT MAKES NOISE,
BUT WHY THE SHOCK WAVE?
WE'RE GOING TO MAKE A
VORTEX GENERATOR TO FIND OUT.
THIS DEVICE WILL ALLOW US
TO EXAMINE THE PHYSICS OF MOVING AIR
SO WE CAN VISUALIZE WHAT WE ALL JUST FELT
FROM THE SHOCK WAVE.
OKAY, GUYS.
SO WE HAVE SOMETHING FUN FOR YOU.
NO FIRE... YET.
SO COME ON OVER HERE.
THESE TWO TRASH CANS
WE KIND OF MODIFIED A LITTLE BIT.
THIS HOMEMADE DEVICE IS PRETTY SIMPLE...
A 32-GALLON TRASH CAN WITH
A HOLE CUT IN THE BOTTOM
AND STRETCHY PLASTIC BOUND
TIGHTLY ON THE BACK OF IT...
NOT GREAT FOR COLLECTING GARBAGE,
BUT GREAT FOR A PRESSURE-WAVE EXPERIMENT.
WE'RE GONNA GIVE THE MEMBRANE A TAP,
AND WHEN WE FORCE AIR
OUT OF THAT LITTLE HOLE,
WE'RE GONNA CREATE THAT TOROIDAL VORTEX.
3, 2, 1. -THERE WE GO.
-THERE WE GO. -GOOD SHOT.
WHEN I TAPPED THE BACK OF THE CAN,
IT PUSHES A BURST OF AIR OUT OF THE HOLE.
THE AIR DISPLACES THE
SURROUNDING AIR OUTSIDE,
SWIRLING IT INTO AN INVISIBLE
DOUGHNUT-SHAPED RING
CALLED A TOROIDAL VORTEX.
THIS ACTION KNOCKS DOWN THE CUPS.
AND WHO DOESN'T LOVE DOUGHNUTS?
TO PROVE IT, CHRIS HAS A FOG MACHINE.
SO THIS IS JUST A LITTLE
BIT OF GLYCERIN FOG.
SO NOW WHEN I TAPE THE MEMBRANE BACK HERE,
WE CAN SEND THAT TOROIDAL VORTEX OUT.
TOROIDAL VORTICES ARE AMAZING.
THE VORTEX KEEPS ITS
DOUGHNUT SHAPE AS IT TRAVELS
FORWARD TOWARD THE CUPS
AND DOESN'T REQUIRE ANY INTERVENTION
TO FURTHER IT ALONG.
LET ME PUT IT ANOTHER WAY.
IF YOU BLOW HARD WITH YOUR MOUTH,
THE AIR DOESN'T TRAVEL FAR,
BUT IF YOU BLOW A SMOKE RING,
IT CAN TRAVEL ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE ROOM.
OUR VORTEX CANNON IS
MAKING THE SAME TYPE OF RING.
EXCEPT FOR ONE PROBLEM.
THERE WAS NO FIRE INVOLVED.
NICK AND OUR BUILDER, CHRIS,
ARE TRYING TO CREATE A
MEGA-FIRE-BREATHING CANNON
SO WE CAN SEE IF WE CAN MAKE
AN ACTUAL FLAMING VORTEX.
WE'RE GONNA FILL IT WITH A FLAMMABLE GAS,
AND WE HAVE A TORCH OVER THERE,
AND SO WE'RE GOING TO SEND
THAT VORTEX INTO THE TORCH.
SO NICK'S GONNA FILL IT WITH PROPANE.
WE'RE GONNA KEEP IT TILTED THIS WAY
BECAUSE PROPANE'S A
LITTLE BIT HEAVIER THAN AIR,
AND WE DON'T WANT IT TO POUR OUT.
AFTER NICK FILLS THE CANNON WITH PROPANE,
HE ADDS LIQUID FOG TO ALLOW US
TO SEE WHAT'S PROJECTING AT THE TORCH.
WE'LL USE THE CANNON TO FIRE THE PROPANE
TOWARDS THE LIT TORCH
AND SEE IF WE CAN LIGHT
THE PROPANE DOUGHNUT
AND MAKE A FIERY RING.
SO, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GONNA HAPPEN?
I THINK WE'RE GONNA GET A
PRETTY... PRETTY BIG FLAME.
LET'S HOPE SO, UNLESS WE
DID SOMETHING VERY WRONG.
[ LAUGHTER ]
DARREN IS SETTING UP SLOW-MOTION
CAMERAS AND THERMAL CAMERAS
SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO SEE
ANY HEAT DISTRIBUTION.
DARREN, ARE YOU READY?
- I AM READY TO GO, SIR.
EVERYBODY READY?
Delaney: WE'RE TAKING
SCIENCE TO THE STREETS.
AT THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT,
WE'RE ABOUT TO SEE WHAT A VORTEX CANNON
CAN DO WITH A LITTLE FIRE.
DARREN, ARE YOU READY?
- I AM READY TO GO, SIR.
EVERYBODY READY?
♪♪
-OH! -WOW.
Woman: I THOUGHT THE COOL PART WAS
ACTUALLY TO SEE THE PROGRESSION
FROM THE VORTEX TO THE FLAME.
♪♪
WHEN YOU'RE WATCHING THIS IN REAL TIME,
ALL YOU SEE IS AN ORANGE FLAME.
IT BURNS SO QUICKLY.
BUT WHEN YOU'RE
WATCHING THIS IN HIGH SPEED,
YOU CAN SEE A BLUE FLAME
ENCAPSULATE THE ORANGE FLAME,
'CAUSE THE PROPANE IS JUST BURNING SO FAST.
IT LOOKED REALLY COOL.
♪♪
Delaney: THE BLUE COLOR IN THE FLAME
IS INDICATIVE OF A COMPLETE
AND CLEAN COMBUSTION.
PROPANE IS A GASEOUS HYDROCARBON
AND BURNS RELATIVELY CLEANLY.
WHAT'S INTERESTING IS WHAT WE CAN'T SEE
WITH THE SLOW-MOTION CAMERA.
THANKS TO THE THERMAL CAM,
WE CAN ALL WITNESS A COMPLETE RING OF FIRE.
♪♪
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READY?
YEAH.
Householder: THE AIR
SHOOTS OUT OF THE CANNON
IN THAT NICE DOUGHNUT SHAPE,
SO THAT PROPANE TRAPPED INSIDE THAT VORTEX
WILL STAY IN THERE AND KEEP SWIRLING
ALL THE WAY OVER TO THE FLAME.
♪♪
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH
FOR LETTING US PLAY HERE.
Delaney: SO, IT'S NO SHOCK
THAT PROPANE FROM YOUR BACKYARD BARBECUE
PUTS OFF A BIG FLAME,
BUT THERE'S OTHER STUFF IN YOUR HOUSE
THAT'S SURPRISINGLY FLAMMABLE.
TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE,
I'M CHECKING IN WITH THE FIREFIGHTERS
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STATION.
HELLO, GENTLEMEN.
THANKS FOR HELPING ME OUT.
I WANT TO FIND OUT WHICH HOUSEHOLD ITEM
IS THE MOST DANGEROUS... PETROLEUM JELLY...
NAIL-POLISH REMOVER... OR STARTER FLUID.
SO WE'RE TALKING HOUSEHOLD FIRES TODAY.
SO WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MOST COMMON CAUSES
OF HOUSEHOLD FIRES THAT YOU ALL SEE?
ONE OF THE MOST COMMON ONES
THAT WE RUN ACROSS ARE DRYER FIRES...
BASICALLY WHEN PEOPLE
FORGET TO EMPTY THEIR LINT TRAP.
ANOTHER COMMON THING
WE RUN IS COOKING FIRES.
- OH, ABSOLUTELY.
- GREASE FIRES ON THE STOVE.
YEAH, BECAUSE IF YOU PUT WATER ON IT,
IT'S NOT GONNA GET ANY BETTER. -ABSOLUTELY.
WELL, WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF HOUSEHOLD ITEMS
THAT WE'RE GOING TO SET ON FIRE HERE,
AND WE WANTED TO TRY
TO TEST SOME OF THIS STUFF
UNDER YOUR SUPERVISION
SO WE'RE NICE AND SAFE.
OKAY, GUYS. I WANT EACH ONE
OF YOU TO COME TO YOUR STATION
AND SPRAY, POUR, OR SMEAR
WHATEVER MATERIALS YOU HAVE HERE,
AND THEN WE'LL LIGHT THEM ON FIRE.
-SOUNDS GOOD. -SOUNDS GOOD.
ALL RIGHT.
SO WHICH ONE OF THESE DO YOU THINK
IS GONNA HAVE THE MOST VIGOROUS REACTION?
WE'RE GONNA GO WITH STARTER FLUID.
STARTER FLUID? THAT'S PROBABLY A SAFE BET.
THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY TO KNOW.
THERE ARE THREE FIRES YOU DO
NOT WANT TO HAVE IN YOUR HOME.
THE ACETONE'S LOOKING PRETTY ENERGETIC.
WELL, THE STARTER FLUID
BURNED OUT RIGHT AWAY.
IT REALLY GASSED OFF
VERY QUICKLY, AND IT'S GONE.
AND THE ACETONE LOOKS
LIKE IT'S ON ITS WAY OUT, TOO,
BUT THE PETROLEUM'S STILL GOING VERY,
VERY ENERGETICALLY, SO...
Delaney: THAT'S BECAUSE IT'S
A DERIVATIVE OF PETROLEUM.
THE PETROLEUM JELLY
IS BURNING LIKE A CANDLE
WITH A COTTON BALL ACTING AS THE WICK.
THIS ALLOWS IT TO BURN LONGER,
BUT THE NAIL-POLISH REMOVER
AND STARTER FLUID BURN
OFF MUCH MORE QUICKLY.
AS PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS,
WHICH ONE OF THESE TERRIFIES
YOU THE MOST? -THE PETROLEUM JELLY.
THAT PETROLEUM JELLY
IS GONNA STICK TO THINGS
AND CREATE MORE OF A FIRE PROBLEM.
YEAH, WHEREAS THESE TWO
WILL EVENTUALLY KIND OF
BURN THEMSELVES OUT A LITTLE BIT.
THIS ONE HAD NO INTENTION OF
GOING OUT UNTIL WE PUT IT OUT.
-ABSOLUTELY. -SO YOU GOT TO BE CAREFUL.
-ALWAYS. -WELL, THANK YOU, GUYS,
VERY, VERY MUCH FOR
HELPING US WITH THIS TEST.
MAY I KEEP THE JACKET?
- OF COURSE. ABSOLUTELY.
EXCELLENT. YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME.
Delaney: WE'RE EXPLORING
THE SURPRISING FLAMMABILITY
OF EVERYDAY HOUSEHOLD MATERIALS,
BUT THERE'S A POTENTIAL
FIRE IN YOUR KITCHEN
THAT WILL SURPRISE YOU EVEN MORE...
COFFEE CREAMER.
HOW COULD SOMETHING AS BASIC
AS COFFEE CREAMER BE DANGEROUS?
DARREN AND I STEP OUTSIDE THE FIREHOUSE
TO FIND OUT WHY THE COFFEE CREAMER
COULD BE A RECIPE FOR DISASTER.
-SO, KEVIN, THAT'S AWESOME. -YEAH.
Dyk: WHAT KIND OF INSANITY
YOU GOT GOING FOR US TODAY?
INSANITY? THIS IS ALL VERY REASONABLE.
AND THIS IS WHAT THEY CALL THE RED DRAGON.
THE RED DRAGON.
IT'S A TORCH THAT THEY USE
TO BURN OFF PROPANE SPILLS.
I THOUGHT MAYBE WE COULD COME HERE
AND MAKE OUR OWN VERSION OF THE RED DRAGON,
BUT INSTEAD OF GAS, WE'RE GONNA
BE USING AN EDIBLE SUBSTANCE.
-LET'S GO DO THAT. -ALL RIGHT.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS USED
TO MANAGING FLAME SAFELY,
SO THIS IS A GREAT PLACE TO EXPERIMENT
WITH A WEIRD WAY OF MAKING FIRE.
COREY DIERDORFF, A FIRE OFFICIAL,
IS HERE, ALONG WITH OUR ENGINEER, NICK.
THAT RED DRAGON TORCH IS AMAZING.
- IT'S PRETTY AWESOME.
- IT'S PRETTY COOL. -REALLY COOL.
SO WE'RE GONNA DO OUR OWN VERSION OF IT,
BUT WE'RE NOT GONNA USE GAS.
WE'RE ACTUALLY GONNA USE NON-DAIRY CREAMER.
-REALLY? -YEAH.
- WHY WOULD WE DO THAT?
- WELL, YOU'LL FIND OUT.
OKAY.
Delaney: NON-DAIRY CREAMER SEEMS LIKE
YOUR RUN-OF-THE-MILL FOOD PRODUCT.
SO HOW COULD IT FUEL A FIRE?
SO, EACH ONE OF YOU HAS A
BUCKET WITH A HOSE ATTACHED,
AND THERE'S A SPARKLER
INSIDE. SO YOU HAVE A LIGHTER.
SO WHAT I'M GONNA ASK YOU
TO DO IS LIGHT THE SPARKLER,
AND THEN WHEN I GIVE
YOU THE 3-2-1 COUNTDOWN,
JUST BLOW INTO THE END OF THAT TUBE.
AND WHAT YOU WANT IS YOU
WANT TO PUSH AS MUCH AIR
AS YOU CAN IN AS SHORT
AMOUNT OF TIME AS POSSIBLE.
-YEAH. -ALL RIGHT.
SO WE RACING HERE, OR WHAT ARE WE...?
-NO, YOU DON'T HAVE TO RACE. -HO, HO, HO.
I WANT TO SEE WHO GETS THE BIGGEST FLAME.
-I'M JUST SAYING. -ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT.
- I'M FEELING PRETTY CONFIDENT.
- I BELIEVE IT.
I HEARD YOU USED TO BE A TRUMPET PLAYER,
SO I FEEL LIKE I'M A LITTLE OUTMATCHED.
I WAS TOLD I HAD A TRUMPET FACE.
ALL RIGHT. I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT MEANS.
BUT IT MEANS THERE'S A SPIT
VALVE THERE SOMEWHERE, WHICH...
OKAY.
SO, SAFETY GOGGLES? -CHECK.
GENTLEMEN, PICK UP YOUR LIGHTERS.
GO AHEAD AND LIGHT YOUR SPARKLERS.
Delaney: SO WE'VE GOT A
BUCKET OF POWDERED CREAMER
WITH A BURNING CANDLE AND A SPARKLER INSIDE
TO HELP LIGHT THE PARTICLES.
THIS MIGHT WORK. -GRAB YOUR HOSE.
SO ON THE COUNT OF
THREE, WE'LL SEE WHO WINS.
THIS IS GONNA BE FUN. I'M EXCITED.
3, 2, 1.
Delaney: WE'RE TAKING
SCIENCE TO THE STREETS,
AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE AT THE
LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT TESTING OUT
HOW DANGEROUS POWDERED
COFFEE CREAMER CAN BE.
COREY AND NICK WILL
FACE OFF IN A COMPETITION.
WHEN I GIVE YOU THE 3-2-1 COUNTDOWN,
JUST BLOW INTO THE END OF THAT TUBE.
3, 2, 1.
-WOW. -THAT WAS AWESOME.
-COREY, YOU WON. -THAT WAS AMAZING.
-THAT WAS AWESOME. -YOU DEFINITELY WON.
♪♪
Delaney: SO COREY AND NICK
BLOW INTO THE CREAMER,
CAUSING IT TO ATOMIZE INTO THE AIR,
AND AS WE CAN SEE ON
DARREN'S HIGH-SPEED CAMERA,
THE RESULTS ARE COMBUSTIVE.
COFFEE CREAMER WILL ONLY
IGNITE IF DISPERSED INTO THE AIR.
POWDERED COFFEE CREAMER
ALSO CONTAINS FLAMMABLE FATS
THAT OXIDIZE EASILY.
A YELLOW FLAME LIKE THIS
COULD GET AS HOT AS
1,800 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.
Dyk: SO WHAT WE'RE
ESSENTIALLY LOOKING AT HERE
IS A DUST EXPLOSION.
AS THE COFFEE CREAMER
IS SHOT UP INTO THE SKY,
THE FIRE TRAILS IT,
AND IT FEEDS OFF OF ALL THE OXYGEN
IN BETWEEN THE COFFEE-CREAMER
PARTICLES AND CREATES
THAT BIG MUSHROOM CLOUD.
IT'S ACTUALLY SURPRISING HOW MUCH FIRE
IS PRODUCED FROM SUCH A
SMALL AMOUNT OF MATERIAL.
-WHAT DO YOU THINK? -THAT WAS INCREDIBLE.
YOU KNOW, IT WAS SOMETHING
I REALLY DIDN'T EXPECT,
ESPECIALLY OUT OF SOMETHING
THAT YOU JUST PUT IN YOUR COFFEE.
YEAH. THOSE LITTLE PARTICLES
OF NON-DAIRY CREAMER
HAVE A HIGH FAT CONTENT,
SO THEY BURN REALLY,
REALLY EASILY, BUT THEY NEED OXYGEN.
SO WHEN YOU BLEW THROUGH THE TUBE,
YOU WERE DISPERSING A LOT OF OXYGEN
AND SEPARATING THE PARTICLES,
AND THAT OXYGEN ALLOWED THEM
TO BURN REALLY, REALLY EASILY,
AND SO WE GOT A BIG CLOUD OF FIRE.
WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, YOU ALWAYS HEAR
ABOUT THE SMALLER THE PARTICLES,
THE FASTER THEY BURN
AND THE HOTTER THEY BURN,
BUT TO SEE SOMETHING THAT
YOU PUT IN YOUR EVERYDAY COFFEE,
AND THE REACTION THAT IT
CAUSED WAS REALLY COOL.
A LONG TIME AGO, THERE USED TO BE
A LOT OF COMMON FIRES IN BREAD FACTORIES
AND GRAIN SILOS AND THINGS LIKE THAT,
AND IT'S BECAUSE OF THIS KIND OF PARTICLE.
GUYS, IT'S INCREDIBLE.
HAVE YOU EVER HAD ANY EXPERIENCES WITH,
LIKE, DUST FIRES OR, LIKE,
LINT IN THE AIR CAUSING FIRES?
OH, ABSOLUTELY. THE SMALLER THE PARTICLES,
LIKE YOU GUYS SAID, THE
FASTER THAT IT BURNS,
AND THE HOTTER THAT IT BURNS. -YEAH.
Delaney: SMALL PARTICLES
OF COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL
MIXED WITH OXYGEN IN THE AIR,
CREATING OUR HUMAN-POWERED FIREBALLS.
WELL, I THINK YOU WON.
NICELY DONE. -WHY, THANK YOU, SIR.
YOU ALSO COMPETED. THAT'S A FACT.
DO I GET A PARTICIPATION TROPHY?
NO.