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Author Topic: Cannonball in mercury [vid]  (Read 721 times)

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Offline Asron87

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Cannonball in mercury [vid]
« on: November 29, 2010, 09:39:45 AM »
This might be a bit off topic but here's something a little different for you guys.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rm5D47nG9k4&feature=player_embedded
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Offline Ex 49'er

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Re: Cannonball in mercury [vid]
« Reply #1 on: November 29, 2010, 11:03:58 AM »
Doesn't seem very healthy to me to be standing next to that vat without a mask and other protective gear on.
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Offline keithinvestigations

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Re: Cannonball in mercury [vid]
« Reply #2 on: November 30, 2010, 03:27:44 PM »
I used to play with mercury as a kid, maybe that's what is wrong with me. :-\
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Offline Cannoneer

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Re: Cannonball in mercury [vid]
« Reply #3 on: November 30, 2010, 04:48:41 PM »
As a kid I used to love playing with that stuff too, but I don't remember ever drinking any; or could it be that I don't remember drinking any, because of the effects caused by drinking some? :o
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Offline GGaskill

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Re: Cannonball in mercury [vid]
« Reply #4 on: November 30, 2010, 04:49:33 PM »
Mercury at room temperature has a low vapor pressure (at 20°C, its vapor pressure is 1.2 μm Hg, so it isn't evaporating very fast) and its boiling point is 673.844°F so it's not very close to violent vaporization at room temperature.  Obviously not to drink or wash in but not very dangerous for a short period exposure.
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Offline Artilleryman

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Re: Cannonball in mercury [vid]
« Reply #5 on: November 30, 2010, 06:01:31 PM »
Floating your cannon ball in a tub of mercury would be a good way of determining which side of the ball had the highest density.  Then you could orientate your cannon balls the same way in the bore using sabots.  This would help to give you the best accuracy.  Too bad it's toxic.
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Offline GGaskill

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Re: Cannonball in mercury [vid]
« Reply #6 on: November 30, 2010, 06:45:20 PM »
Too bad it's toxic.

And that much of it would be very expensive, although you wouldn't need more than a couple of quarts to float cannon balls.  At about $8 per pound and about 28 lbs per quart, two quarts would be worth $450.
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Offline BoomLover

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Re: Cannonball in mercury [vid]
« Reply #7 on: November 30, 2010, 06:53:51 PM »
Pretty interesting video! Floating cannonballs! Did not know that, thanks for posting it! BoomLover
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Offline Cat Whisperer

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Re: Cannonball in mercury [vid]
« Reply #8 on: December 01, 2010, 12:55:23 AM »
Quote from: Artilleryman on November 30, 2010, 06:01:31 PM
Floating your cannon ball in a tub of mercury would be a good way of determining which side of the ball had the highest density.  Then you could orientate your cannon balls the same way in the bore using sabots.  This would help to give you the best accuracy.  Too bad it's toxic.

Could also be done in the lead pot - when smelting WW for casting bullets.  Good idea, Norm!  ;D
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