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Tyler Durden ([personal profile] tyler_gone) wrote in [community profile] fandomhigh2009-07-14 08:38 am
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Mythbusting, Tuesday, Period 2

Tyler smiled slightly at his class as they assembled. No lab supplies were in evidence, just a TV at the front of the room. "Morning. We're just watching a video here and then we're going outside for the experiment -- the Diet Coke-Mentos eruption."

He cued up a DVD player at the front of class. "This is an episode of Mythbusters --- yes, the show I named the clas for -- showing the science behind what we're going to do. I would have a lecture, but I wouldn't say anything the magic box won't already tell you. These guys are good."

The episode played, explaining that the reaction, in which Mentos dropped into a bottle of Diet Coke produce a fountain as tall as a person, is a product of the caffeine, potassium benzoate, aspartame, and carbon dioxide in the Diet Coke and the gelatin and gum arabic in the Mentos, as well as the rough surface of the candies.

When it was over, Tyler turned off the TV. "And now, you get to do this yourself. Grab a buddy and we're going outside. I have Mentos, Certs, M&Ms, Skittles, Diet Coke, regular Coke, and plain soda water, plus Diet Pepsi, so you can play around and see what makes the best fountain."

Re: Experiment [7/14]

[identity profile] stylin-wizard.livejournal.com 2009-07-14 10:34 pm (UTC)(link)
"Sure," Alex smiled, nodding slightly. "I've never actually done this before," she admitted. She'd seen it first hand, but had never been a participant. Something about her penchant for pranks, but that was way back when at her old school.

Re: Experiment [7/14]

[identity profile] weetinyreese.livejournal.com 2009-07-14 10:41 pm (UTC)(link)
"Me neither, but it seems pretty easy. We mix the little things into the drink, right?"

Re: Experiment [7/14]

[identity profile] stylin-wizard.livejournal.com 2009-07-14 11:05 pm (UTC)(link)
"That's right," Alex nodded. "See which one goes the highest," she added. "I'm betting on either the Mentos or the Certs, but I could be wrong."

Re: Experiment [7/14]

[identity profile] weetinyreese.livejournal.com 2009-07-14 11:07 pm (UTC)(link)
"What's the difference between Mentos and Certs?"

Re: Experiment [7/14]

[identity profile] stylin-wizard.livejournal.com 2009-07-14 11:33 pm (UTC)(link)
"Well, they're both mints but mentos have chewy centers while certs are hard inside and out," Alex replied. "I have a feeling they have more differences as far as their make up goes, but that's the most notable one."

Re: Experiment [7/14]

[identity profile] weetinyreese.livejournal.com 2009-07-14 11:45 pm (UTC)(link)
"Oh, got it. Which one do you wanna try first?"

Re: Experiment [7/14]

[identity profile] stylin-wizard.livejournal.com 2009-07-15 12:02 am (UTC)(link)
"Why don't we try the mentos?" Alex suggested. It might be cool to see how the hard coating reacted with the soda.

Re: Experiment [7/14]

[identity profile] weetinyreese.livejournal.com 2009-07-15 01:13 am (UTC)(link)
"Let's do it," Kyle agreed. "We should probably get ready to stand back once it goes in unless you feel like changing your clothes again today."

Re: Experiment [7/14]

[identity profile] stylin-wizard.livejournal.com 2009-07-15 02:12 am (UTC)(link)
"Good idea," Alex nodded. "I'm all for keeping a clean outfit," she laughed. "Would you like to do the honors?"

Re: Experiment [7/14]

[identity profile] weetinyreese.livejournal.com 2009-07-15 03:04 am (UTC)(link)
Kyle nodded. "Get ready to run and, I guess, keep track of how high it goes. For science." He got the drink ready, then looked at Alex and used his fingers to give the countdown from 3. 3. 2. 1. He dropped the little thing in and made a run for it.

Re: Experiment [7/14]

[identity profile] stylin-wizard.livejournal.com 2009-07-15 03:36 am (UTC)(link)
"Right." For science. That was cute.

Alex waited until he counted down to one and started running. She was expecting that thing to go pretty high and glanced back to check on it, as she ran. Though, the whole watching it as she ran thing might not end well.

Re: Experiment [7/14]

[identity profile] weetinyreese.livejournal.com 2009-07-15 03:45 am (UTC)(link)
"Careful!" Kyle called, quickly catching up with her. Having spent most of his life running, he was pretty fast on his feet. He was expecting a huge reaction, but sadly it wasn't as good as some of the ones they'd seen on TV.

Re: Experiment [7/14]

[identity profile] stylin-wizard.livejournal.com 2009-07-15 04:01 am (UTC)(link)
Alex wasn't that used to running but she managed to stay up on her feet. And wow, she hadn't expected Kyle to run that fast.

Alex was expecting it to go fairly high -- she'd seen ones that reached eight feet -- but she was disappointed that it didn't reach that height. "I wonder if the certs would react better."

Re: Experiment [7/14]

[identity profile] weetinyreese.livejournal.com 2009-07-15 04:04 am (UTC)(link)
"Maybe I did it wrong," Kyle frowned. "Why don't you try it?"

Re: Experiment [7/14]

[identity profile] stylin-wizard.livejournal.com 2009-07-15 06:20 am (UTC)(link)
"I don't think so," Alex shook her head. "It looked right to me." Maybe the mint wasn't a strong one? "All right, let's see what happens with this one."

She walked back to the candy and grabbed a cert. "Ready?" Alex held it over the bottle, waiting to drop. "Same thing as last time?" With the whole counting, dropping and running thing.

Re: Experiment [7/14]

[identity profile] weetinyreese.livejournal.com 2009-07-15 08:31 am (UTC)(link)
"Ready. Don't trip," he grinned.

Re: Experiment [7/14]

[identity profile] stylin-wizard.livejournal.com 2009-07-15 03:31 pm (UTC)(link)
"I'll try not to," Alex laughed. "I'm usually more coordinated than that, I swear," she added, an amused smile on her face.

"Okay, here goes nothing." Just like before, she counted down with her hand and then dropped the cert in the bottle. And ran for it.

Re: Experiment [7/14]

[identity profile] weetinyreese.livejournal.com 2009-07-16 12:31 am (UTC)(link)
Kyle waited for Alex to run, then followed after her. When they were at a safe distance, he stopped and caught the end of the experiment. "Now that's a fountain."
Edited 2009-07-16 00:31 (UTC)

Re: Experiment [7/14]

[identity profile] stylin-wizard.livejournal.com 2009-07-16 01:13 am (UTC)(link)
"Very nice," Alex grinned, having caught sight of the fountain before it ended. "I guess the certs win."