AboutDan Fink Expertise Though my experience is mostly in the fields of electricity, magnetism, and physics, I have a broad science background. My career is in the field of alternative power sources -- solar, wind, water and battery power. But any questions about electricity, magnetism, energy conservation, power generation, electric motors, and even general physics are very welcome--especially from kids. They ask the best questions of all! I pride myself in answering science questions accurately, with ideas for SAFE, easy experiments that kids can perform by themselves--and that let them prove the answers to their own satisfaction. I think science should be fun, and available to everyone, regardless of age.
Experience I have volunteered in our local public schools for 5 years. I currently make presentations at our schools about electricity and magnetism, with a focus on solar, wind, water and other alternative power sources. I try to demonstrate at our schools how easy it is to make electricity, with simple devices using spinning magnets and coils of wire--powered by wind, water, bicycles, gerbils...etc. And of course solar panels! I am the webmaster of Otherpower.com, an alternative energy website. I have lived 10 miles from the nearest power pole for 11 years--I make all my own electricity from scratch with sun, wind and water.
Expert: Dan Fink Date: 2/6/2008 Subject: carbonation
Question if you know anything can know just a little bit you know on carbontion? plese? thank you p.s I'm jordon
Answer Hi Jordon -- I can give you some basic info, and a great link to the online encyclopedia article.
Carbonation in soda is dissolved carbon dioxide gas (CO2). It is forced in under pressure at the bottling plant. The soda stays carbonated because its under pressure in the can, and when you open the can the CO2 tries to reach equilibrium with the atmosphere. The colder the liquid, the more CO2 can be dissolved in it. So, if you pour a glass of soda, the carbonation will disappear faster if the soda is warm, and stay longer if it's cold.
Oh -- and when you shake a can of soda before you open it, it fizzes over, right? But it's not from any sort of pressure increase. You've made a bunch of tiny bubbles when you shake it, and when the pressure drops from opening the can, the bubbles expand rapidly and the can foams over.
