Adiabatic Heating Demo

This is a demonstration of adiabatic heating using a cylinder and a plunger. When the air in the cylinder is compressed quickly by the plunger, the air volume goes down and its pressure and temperature go up, igniting a small bit of paper in the cylinder.

It was created at Utah State University by Professor Boyd F. Edwards, assisted by James Coburn (demonstration specialist), David Evans (videography), and Rebecca Whitney (closed captions), with support from Jan Sojka, Physics Department Head, and Robert Wagner, Executive Vice Provost and Dean of Academic and Instructional Services.

[steventhehistorian]

This is incredible...How have I been able to go so many years on YouTube without ever encountering a demonstration like this?!

[stephinabraham]

i loved how he took a pause like a ninja before pressing the piston down.

[rebeccakreidler]

I want one! For all Physics teachers, the equipment is named: Fire Syringe. This was a really neat demo and I love it.

[rickscheck]

Clear and concise. I knew of the phenomenon, now the terminology. Thanks!
p.s. "demonstration specialist"; I was a mere lab attendant.

[yogitakukreja]

Woaaah!! Was not able to understand Adiabatic heating and this demonstration so vividly explained it!!

[KGopidas]

Wonderful. You have driven home the point beyond a shadow of doubt. Thank you

[sukamalshil]

That's how I wanna learn physics.❤️

[VideoPlusMusic]

Who came here after the Oceangate Titan (Titanic sub) imploded?

[trumanhw]

super cool.
(arson investigators are NEVER gonna figure that one out!)

[knvcsg]

Well, I have loved the video and the explanation, but it was too short man.

[Fine_Mouche]

can we build a fire surviving tool with this process ?

[jessehackett]

So this happened to the people on the titan submarine?