Unraveling the Mystery: Why Does the Bottle Shrink?

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In summary: Thanks.In summary, the bottle shrinks because pressure decreases and the volume no longer remains constant.
  • #1
gracy
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why the bottle shrinks?(1)I know according to Gay lussac law Temperature ∝ pressure, as temperature decreases pressure also decreases .But why bottle would shrink if pressure decreases,because decreases in pressure just mean molecules are not hitting that fast.
(2)And if bottle shrinks it's volume no longer remain constant so how can gay lussac law explain this.Because according to gay lussac law volume should remain constant.
 
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  • #2
Pressure is a force exerted on the surface. When the pressure inside goes down external force crushes the bottle.
 
  • #3
Borek said:
external force
Which one?
 
  • #4
That of the atmosphere. You are forgetting we are being squeezed by the 1 atm of the atmospheric pressure all the time. It doesn't matter when the bottle contains the air at the same pressure, but when you remove the air from the bottle, situation changes.
 
  • #5
Borek said:
That of the atmosphere. You are forgetting we are being squeezed by the 1 atm of the atmospheric pressure all the time. It doesn't matter when the bottle contains the air at the same pressure, but when you remove the air from the bottle, situation changes.
You mean external pressure>internal pressure that's why bottle shrinks.
 
  • #6
Yes.
 
  • #7
Borek said:
Yes.
So in this video before the bottle or can is put in cold water ,the pressure inside was 1 atm?
 
  • #8
Yes. It quickly drops down when the can is cooled down.
 
  • #9
gracy said:
So in this video before the bottle or can is put in cold water ,the pressure inside was 1 atm?
But why?
Borek said:
Yes. It quickly drops down when the can is cooled down.
When can cooled down ,pressure dropped down from 1 atm,so when can was heated at 0:40-0:50 seconds in this video pressure should have increased from 1 atm,right?So why didn't the can expand?
 
  • #10
Can is opened, so when it is heated gases have no problems evacuating, and the pressure inside is the same as a pressure around. Then they put the can to water with the opening directed down, so when the pressure inside the can drops down rapidly, it starts to suck water. But the water is a dense liquid, and it can't be sucked up as fast as the gas could be - so before the pressure equilibrates, forces acting on the can have enough time to do the damage.

To be honest, I don't like this experiment, as the explanation of what is happening is far from obvious.
 
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  • #11
Borek said:
Can is opened, so when it is heated gases have no problems evacuating, and the pressure inside is the same as a pressure around. Then they put the can to water with the opening directed down, so when the pressure inside the can drops down rapidly, it starts to suck water. But the water is a dense liquid, and it can't be sucked up as fast as the gas could be - so before the pressure equilibrates, forces acting on the can have enough time to do the damage.

To be honest, I don't like this experiment, as the explanation of what is happening is far from obvious.
Thanks.Very nice explanation.
 
  • #12
Also note that it is not about Gay Lussac law (which is why I don't like the experiment). It may look like that's what is going on, but they added some water to the can. That means after heating boiling water purged most of the air from the can (the water vapor pressure was still making the inside pressure up to 1 atm). When they put the can into water what is happening is not the cooling of the gas, but condensation of the water. Net effect - inside pressure dropping down fast and external pressure crushing the can - is the same, but the physics behind the pressure drop is different from what they want you to think it is.
 
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1. Why does the bottle shrink when left in the sun?

The bottle shrinks when left in the sun because of a process called thermal expansion. The heat from the sun causes the molecules in the plastic to move faster and spread out, resulting in a decrease in volume.

2. Does the type of plastic used in the bottle affect its shrinking?

Yes, the type of plastic used in the bottle can affect its shrinking. Different types of plastic have different properties and may react differently to heat, resulting in varying levels of shrinkage.

3. Can the bottle return to its original size after shrinking?

No, the bottle cannot return to its original size after shrinking. The plastic has undergone a permanent change in shape due to the thermal expansion process.

4. Are there any other factors besides heat that can cause a bottle to shrink?

Yes, there are other factors that can cause a bottle to shrink. Exposure to certain chemicals, such as certain types of solvents, can also cause plastic to shrink. Additionally, physical stress or pressure on the bottle can also result in shrinkage.

5. Is there a way to prevent a bottle from shrinking?

Yes, there are ways to prevent a bottle from shrinking. Storing the bottle in a cool and dark place can help minimize the effects of thermal expansion. Additionally, using a different type of plastic or adding reinforcing materials to the plastic can also prevent shrinkage.

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