Boiling water turns into snow.

[muttleynfelix]

I just saw on facebook a fire department asking people not to try it because with the winds whipping around they have had treat a person for second degree burns. 

[Regis]

We did it today, too, but added food coloring so we had bright blue vapors.

[tskeeter]

Jan 6, 2014 18:30:19 GMT -5 @wrongsideof30 said:

I just did this with the kids and it's so cool!


www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2534848/Watch-polar-vortex-instantly-turns-boiling-water-snow.html


"The science behind the trick involves the gradient between the hot water and the freezing air.

Boiling water is in a state nearer to gas and is less viscous that colder water which is technically nearer to ice.

When the boiling water is thrown into the air it falls into tiny droplets that vaporize instantly due to their high ratio of surface area to volume."

Seems from the description that the claim that this effect is due to the temperature differential is simply wrong.  It appears that the fundamental issue is particle size, not temperature.  Guess that's why a lot of snow making equipment adds compressed air to the water flow.  The additional pressure helps atomize the water, reducing the particle size, and allowing the water to cool faster.  I can promise you that ski areas are not using boiling water to make snow.

Makes me wonder if you could so the same thing with a garden sprayer full of water.  With some food coloring, would be kind of fun.  Make your own rainbow.

[sarcasticgirl]

I did this 3 times yesterday... then I couldn't feel my toes anymore so i stopped.

[Sam_2.0]

SO many people here were throwing the water up over their heads and getting burned. SMDH. If you do try it, at least throw it in the same direction the wind is blowing and AWAY from your body!!

[sarcasticgirl]

Sorry, but throwing it over your head is just stupid! 

[Plain Old Petunia]

My brain turned the sentence around, lol!

Yeah, boiling snow turns it into water.  Yep.  I'm not really confused about the science behind this "trick".  Why is she posting this?  

[Deleted]

Jan 7, 2014 17:19:37 GMT -5 sarcasticgirl said:

Sorry, but throwing it over your head is just stupid! 

Ya well guess how many people did just that.

[Abby Normal]

Just how cold does it have to be for that to work?  DH and DS would have a ball doing that, but it's not nearly cold enough here I'm sure.

[tskeeter]

Jan 7, 2014 17:52:55 GMT -5 Abby Normal said:

Just how cold does it have to be for that to work?  DH and DS would have a ball doing that, but it's not nearly cold enough here I'm sure.

Not sure about use the boiling water, but the ideal temperature for ski areas to make snow is about +20F.  So, if you can get the water well atomized, it should work at fairly warm temps.

[weltschmerz]

Jan 7, 2014 17:52:55 GMT -5 Abby Normal said:

Just how cold does it have to be for that to work?  DH and DS would have a ball doing that, but it's not nearly cold enough here I'm sure.

Very cold, or else it doesn't work and you'll just scald yourself.

I only did it with my son when it was minus 20 or colder.

[Deleted]

We have been freezing bubbles. Fun.

Pretty pics of frozen bubbles.

abcnews.go.com/US/slideshow/frozen-bubble-21372569