Internet version [Naruhodo no Mori] Vol.29

by Yumiko Mori

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Vol. 29     May 15th, 1997

Powder explosion

Home science experiments for mothers of elementary school children

Because of holidays Mom lost her daily rhythm.

Mom: "Toshi, shall we do an eye opening experiment?"
Toshi: "Yes, what is your eye opening experiment?"
Mom: "Powder explosion!  You said you wanted to do this."
Toshi: "Yes, I wanted to do an explosion experiment."
Mom: "Do you remember we saw an explosion demonstration at the science museum?
That was exciting, wasn't it?"
Toshi: "Yes, that was very cool."
Mom: "Even though the experiment looked dangerous, I heard we can do similar experiment at home."
Today it is warm and not so windy. It's a good day to do this experiment.
Mom: "I hold the candle. You blow, OK?"
Toshi: "I always end up doing dangerous tasks."
Mom: "I am too scary to do this."
Toshi: "Oh, no!  I'll have to do this."
Mom: "Ready?  Go!"
Toshi blows through a straw.
As the flour powder is blown toward the candle frame, the powder catches red flame.
Mom: "Oh!  Did you see it? "
Toshi: "It was amazing!"
Mom: "It was so surprising that the powder caught fire so quickly!"
Mom: "Toshi, you are a fire breathing man!"
Toshi: "No, I am a man covered all over with flour."

Materials

• Flour (3 tablespoonful)
  
• A tea strainer
  
• A dish plate (microwavable)
  
• A Microwave machine
  
• A spoon
  
• A thick paper (about 10 cm x 13 cm)
  
• A straw
  
• A Scotch tape
  
• A candle
  
• A bucket with water (in case of accidental fire)

How to do powder explosion

Attach a straw to a thick paper	Sieve flour and warm up in the microwave for one minute
Sieve the flour again and place it on a thick paper	Position a candle so that the candle is about 5 cm away from the edge of the paper and its frame positions slightly below the thick paper level.
Blow the straw and you will see the blown powder catches frame.

• Have a bucket of water in case of fire.

• Be careful not to swallow flour powder.

• The reason why we heated flour is to make it more flammable.

  
  

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  Ability to predict coming dangers

     John McClane, a hero in the movie 'Die Hard', had amazing ability to predict danger. He appeared to know what is coming next. He is so calm.  I am completely opposite. I was screaming when we did this powder explosion. Even worse, I could not be calm for the explosion we had known it was coming. I cannot imagine how upset I will be if I encounter a sudden accident or disaster. Maybe the most dangerous part is not being able to predict danger and not having experience for dangerous situation. Today we protect ourselves from dangers by all sorts of preparations. Thanks to these preparations, we do not face even minor dangers. As long as it is safe, it may be useful to experience some dangerous experiments.

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  Author	Yumiko Mori (Zushi, Kanagawa, Japan)
  Illustration	Mitsue Ogata
  Translator	Akira Ishihara
  HTML format	Muneo Kume

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  Copyright © 1997 Rika no Heya & Yumiko Mori

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