Apr 11th 2018, 10:22 AM
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#13 |
Physics Team
Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Boston's North Shore
Posts: 1,574
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Originally Posted by topsquark The last time I saw someone "test" this he lost his eyebrows and some hair. (Granted, he was drunk and standing right over it... )
-Dan |
Please describe the circumstances and precisely what he did. Thanks.
Hint: Never play with fire when you're drunk.
I do mean to drop the cigarette into a pool of gas. Do not bend over and give a strong drag when the cigarette is 1 cm above the pool of gas. Under such situations the cigarette paper catches fire.
Please read this before any attempt: https://www.scienceabc.com/eyeopener...line-fire.html
... Gasoline and Cigarettes Don’t Mix?
Again, the answer to this should be quite simple, a yes or no answer, but in reality, the answer is slightly more complex. Cigarettes tend to burn at approximately 800-1100 degrees Fahrenheit (source), and can get even hotter during a particularly long drag. Essentially, you are providing more and more oxygen for the fire to burn faster and hotter, thus eating up the tobacco and releasing smoke into your lungs. Now, the ignition temperature of gasoline is much lower than that, roughly 495 degrees Fahrenheit (source).
On paper, this means that the gasoline should ignite quite quickly and an explosion is imminent. However, researchers have proven that this is highly unlikely. When a cigarette is not being “dragged”, the temperature drops considerably, making it harder to ignite.
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The variables of gasoline vapor, airflow, temperature of the cigarette are all difficult to calculate, but the probability is extremely low that you will go up in flames because you tossed a cigarette butt in a pool of gasoline. One particular study attempted over 2,000 different scenarios and situations where gasoline and a lit cigarette could interact, and not a single attempt resulted in the gasoline catching on fire.
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I'll be doing more volunteer work at our local TV station and will eventuall host my own TV plan. I spoke to the people in charge and they loved my ideas. Take note that this is not in the near future but later on this year. This cigarette and gas thing will be something I'll bring up. 
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