Cold Weather Experiments

in rome -3 could be considered extreme cold not enough to liquefy SO2 but when i tried to use my butane torch couldn't get any gas out, or just for a few seconds as i warmed the cylinder with my hands (but kept getting colder during use, joule-thompson effect )

[Edited on 3-2-2019 by Ubya]

Quote: Originally posted by Vomaturge

here's some ideas @Ubya, with it a bit cooler, you would have a an advantage if you're stupid enough to refill disposable lighters with butane. Poke a thumbtack into the hole in the bottom of an empty lighter, and push the little ball that seals it into the inside. Put some rubber tube or a short piece of aquarium hose over the nozzle of a butane cylinder, so that it creates a partial seal when pressed against the bottom of the lighter. Once you've filled it, put the tack back in before all the gas escapes. It'll work in any weather, but you lose way more butane at 30C than at -10. If you must try it, Do it outside, preferably with a slight breeze. Make sure to use something over the nozzle to help it seal. Don't (duh) use propane. Don't try near ignition sources. Don't try out your newly filled lighter right away; the only butane that will likely be vaporizing at that point is the butane you spilled on your glove. Better yet, don't try to do this. Call me a wimp, but normally, I try to avoid going outside in the coldest weather, both because of the inconvenience of getting dressed and because the lowest temperatures are in the dead of night. But, sometimes when its -20C or lower, the steam in the propane heater exhaust freezes in the exhaust pipe and I have to bundle up and clean it out. I don't do a whole lot of experiments right now, for a variety of reasons (mostly space and equipment, though) But I'm supposed to get some -10 maybe -15C weather next week, so if anyone can think of something simple to do in moderate cold, I might try it. Right now, It's unseasonably warm here with +3C!