Father Scott, Nature of Powders
Excerpted from Campion-Knights Nostalgia Guest Book
Mon Oct 18 14:34:54 2004 [Robert Bruchs 1973]:
I remember yet another General Physics demonstration performed by the
legendary Fr. Scott. This demonstration was on the explosive nature of
powders (not gun powders, mind you). Benign powders, such as talcum
powder, and for those whom grew up in the Mid-west, grain elevator
dust. The demonstration went as follows: Imagine a 1-gallon paint can,
inside of which is a wooden pedestal fastened to the bottom of the
paint can. Fastened to the top end of the pedestal is a metallic bowl,
with the capacity of approximately 1 tablespoon. Through a hole in the
side of the paint can is a pipette with a tapered end, pointing
directly at the metallic bowl. On the outside of the paint can,
attached to the external end of the pipette, was I believe surgical
tubing, about four feet in length. Inside the paint can, waxed firmly
to the bottom surface, was a small candle (probably the funny birthday
kind that you can't blow out). The apparatus now ready, Fr. Scott
placed the full load of talcum powder into the tablespoon-sized
reservoir, lit the candle, and tapped the paint can lid snugly onto the
can. Before the candle could extinguish itself due to its consumption
of the oxygen within the paint can, Fr. Scott quickly puffed into the
far end of the surgical tubing. BOOOM !!!! The paint can lid flies off
and impacts the ornate tin ceiling. Once the dust settled, there,
before us gentlemen, his jet-black cassock now peppered with talcum
powder, stood the Kabuki faced Fr. Scott. Without so much as batting an
eyelash, I heard him say, “Therefore gentlemen, you now are aware of
the explosive nature of powders, however, I think I used too much
talcum powder”.