I have read about some wonderful microwave experiments, and seen many done on tv, all of which I would never try unless they were safe (of course).
There is one microwave experiment that I cannot find any onfo on anywhere…
What happens when you microwave a glow stick?
Does it bring it back to life once it’s dead? Does it glow whilst in there? Does it go 522666 (kaboom)?
Don’t really want to try it, as it sounds dangerous, but I’m thoroughly intrigued…
Anyone able to cure my curiosity without killing any cats?
Well first off it heats the innard chemicals of the glow-stick so it’s very hot to touch, and could possibly cause an explosion. Exploding glow-stick with nasty chemicals and glass shards…not something I’d want to risk. So in other words, try at your own risk.
Basically, though, the chemicals absorb the energy, and radiate it back as light for a brief time (about 5 or 10 minutes).
A glow stick is a sealed container with water, and some other chemicals inside. If you heat it in a microwave, the water will start to boil, and rupture the container. The light emitting reaction is irreversible, so heating a stick will not regenerate it. However, the reaction does go faster at higher temperatures, so if you heat a stick that’s almost dead, it will get brighter.
Microwave experiments hijack
here is a great one I did last week
Get yourself a ten year old son, (this takes a little longer than a decade so you may want to substitute a neighborhood kid for this part). Next get a 1/4 bottle of pancake syrup (plastic only) and refrigerate until really thick (a ten year old shouldn’t be able to get any out of the bottle and must use ingenious idea to do so).
You have to leave at this time because adult supervision really messes up the experiment.
Microwave on high until just the moment before it explodes, then open the door, if done right it will explode at just the right moment and shoot across the kitchen just missing said ten-year olds head while leaving a fine aerosol sized spray of syrup all over every thing in its path. It is great fun to clean up while your shoes are sticking to the floor, papers are sticking to your hands, all the while breathing in the sweetly overwhelming smell of what was aunt jamima’s finest; and as a bonus you could get almost three hours of close personal bonding time with your son or substitute ten year old, I know I did. :smack:
DISCLAIMER: don’t try this at home it could be dangerous, unless of course you are a certified microwave experimenter. No animals were hurt in the research of this test (excluding one ten year old boy) :eek:
