Math Is Fun Forum

Devantè

Real Member

Registered: 2006-07-14

Posts: 6,400

Exploding Gobstopper

Some time ago, a child put a gobstopper into a microwave, then ate the gobstopper. What happened? It exploded in his mouth. Luckily, the child did not die, but he was seriously injured. He recovered a few months later. And so, the Mythbusters set out to try and figure out why it exploded in his mouth, and perhaps, if they could do it again.

After a while, they did eventually figure out what caused it to explode. However...they found it strange that the microwave had no effect whatsoever on the gobstopper, apart from some of the outside melting. Then, they tried to put the gobstopper in an oven, and in some intense heat, it exploded! They then proceeded to placed a gobstopper in an even hotter environment - A specialized microwave. Something happened to it, but no explosion. They tore the gobstopper in two (it was softer, making it easier), and the inside looked like yolk. Literally.

Their experiment proved that there is such thing as an exploding gobstopper!

Ricky

Moderator

Registered: 2005-12-04

Posts: 3,791

Re: Exploding Gobstopper

Often how something is heated is more important then how much something is heated.  In a microwave, "heat" is applied much more uniformly than in an oven.  For example, you can superheat water in a microwave in just a few minutes, but no amount of heat from an oven will cause such an effect.

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"In the real world, this would be a problem.  But in mathematics, we can just define a place where this problem doesn't exist.  So we'll go ahead and do that now..."

Chelsea

Member

Registered: 2005-06-16

Posts: 390

Re: Exploding Gobstopper

Now i know never to do that!!

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Theres no other place like home or is there..............

elite-mathlete

Member

Registered: 2006-07-16

Posts: 40

Re: Exploding Gobstopper

My first question was, why in the world would you want to heat a gobstopper up?

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Maybe the helicopter, maybe it's made of chocolate.

Devantè

Real Member

Registered: 2006-07-14

Posts: 6,400

Re: Exploding Gobstopper

Young children (under 7) are terribly inquisitive. They'll do stupid things until they turn 10, or slightly younger.

Ricky

Moderator

Registered: 2005-12-04

Posts: 3,791

Re: Exploding Gobstopper

You must have had a great childhood, Devante.  I'm still doing stupid things!

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"In the real world, this would be a problem.  But in mathematics, we can just define a place where this problem doesn't exist.  So we'll go ahead and do that now..."