We used to put soda cans on the tracks. I guess due to the jostling of the tracks as the train approached (shaking the pressurized contents), and the friction and pressure of the train wheel as it hit the can - the can would be instantly vaporized. It didn’t really matter if you shook the can up before hand or not. We’d try to find the pieces afterwards and rarely found anything larger than dime-sized. Sometimes the aluminum would be welded into the track. Has anyone else ever done this?
Hello, whoami? and welcome to the SDMB! When commenting on a staff report or one of Cecil’s columns, please provide a link so the rest of us know what you are commenting on. I can only assume that this is thread is in reference to http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mtrackpenny.html**.