[Rockhounds] Alien worlds

[Al Balmer]

On Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:51:29 +0200, "Axel Emmermann"
<axel.emmermann at pandora.be> wrote:

>Liquid nitrogen is an entirely different matter... The liquid always exerts
>hydrostatic pressure on submerged object so there is (between the bubbles)
>much more direct contact. Also the sheer difference in temperature of 210° C
>is twice the shock that CO2-ice causes.

But if there's little pressure, it still forms a gas layer. I worked
one summer at a Sylvania research lab. When we had visitors, the boss
liked to dramatically describe the hazards of liquid nitrogen,
including a demo shattering a piece of Tygon tubing, then scoop up a
handful from the Dewar and throw it at them.

Neat stuff. If you drop it on the floor, it rolls around picking up
all the dust, then leaving a little pile when it evaporates.

-- 
Al Balmer
Sun City, AZ