# in space... **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 29, 1999, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-space/603 "1999-05-29T20:34:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 1999, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-space/603/1 "1999-05-29T20:34:00Z")
If you boil water on a spacecraft in space (with air pressure equal to sea level), which way do the bubbles go? Or will the water boil at all w/o gravity? ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 1999, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-space/603/2 "1999-05-30T06:21:00Z")
Bubbles rise in boiling water because the water is heavier than they are and force them up. In a weightless environment, they would do neither one. Bubbles will still form on nucleation sites, and I think stay there. The surface tension of the water would prevent them from breaking loose into the water itself. If a bubble formed in the interior of the water (using an impurity as a nucleation site) it would simply float around in the water until it reached a surface. Or at least that’s my best guess… ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 1999, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-space/603/3 "1999-06-02T22:06:00Z")
I’m sure we’ve spent lots of tax dollars on this already.yes it will boil, but you would have to heat it(electricallly) in a spherical flask with a small tube where there would be a one way valve for steam to come out. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 1999, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-space/603/4 "1999-06-03T14:44:00Z")
A better title for this posting would have been “Boiling water in space”, rather than the generic “in space…”. Then I wouldn’t have had to bother checking it. Please be more specific. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 1999, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-space/603/5 "1999-06-03T15:35:00Z")
In space, no one can hear you steam… * * * “I guess it is possible for one person to make a difference, although most of the time they probably shouldn’t.” ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 1999, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-space/603/6 "1999-06-03T21:09:00Z")
> [@](#): > > but you would have to heat it(electricallly) in a spherical flask with a small tube where there would be a one way valve for steam to come out. – sunbear Well, as far as the valve, you’d only need that if you felt it was important to maintain a constant pressure. You could still boil water in a sealed container, so long as there was already sufficient air in it. Why do you feel that you’d need a spherical container? ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 1999, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-space/603/7 "1999-06-03T21:20:00Z")
Thanks a lot Jophiel! I laughed so damn much my boss came over to see what the hell I was doing!