NEW ZEALAND PHYSICS TEACHERS' RESOURCE BANK

Wire Glows Under Water

The apparatus set up with a video camera. Video below.

Close-up of the beaker and electrical connections.

Abstract

A wire glows orange while submerged in water.

Portable Yes
Principles Illustrated

The wire can be hot enough to glow because it is surrounded by a vapour layer. When the current is turned off, the water reaches the wire and a hiss is heard as the wire cools rapidly. A similar effect can be observed when an object is placed in liquid nitrogen and a vapour layer forms. The boiling is slow until the object cools somewhat, and then the liquid reaches the object the boiling suddenly increases while the object is cooled to liquid nitrogen temperature.

NCEA & Science Curriculum

Can be used as a starting point for investigations in PHYS 1.1, PHYS 1.2.

Teacher Guide
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Video
Instructions

Boil the water with a flame. Connect the current source (here a battery) to the nichrome wire and observe. Some adjustment of the current and wire length will be necessary.

Larger photos: Apparatus || Close-up
Safety

 

Use only a low voltage, current-limited power supply or battery! There is a fairly large quantity of boiling water and a flame involved. Constant supervision is necessary.

Individual teachers are responsible for safety in their own classes. Even familiar demonstrations should be practised and safety-checked by individual teachers before they are used in a classroom.
Credits

This teaching resource was developed with support from
 

This demonstration was developed and filmed with help from Frank Cook.

Copyright

Copyright and fair use statement