When cold water is poured on a can containing hot water, the can collapses because the?
steam condeses and occupies the partial vacuum in the can
external air pressure counter balances the pressure within the can
steam expands to occupy the vacuum remaining in the can
external pressure becomes greater than the pressure within the can.
Explanation
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The correct answer is D. external pressure becomes greater than the pressure within the can.
When hot water is inside the can, the air inside the can expands and some of it escapes. When cold water is poured on the can, the air inside the can rapidly contracts, creating a partial vacuum inside the can.
The external air pressure, which is greater than the pressure inside the can, pushes inward on the can, causing it to collapse. This is because the external pressure is greater than the pressure inside the can, creating an inward force that crushes the can.
The other options are incorrect:
A. The condensation of steam does occur, but it's not the primary reason for the can's collapse.
B. The external air pressure doesn't counterbalance the pressure within the can; instead, it exceeds it, causing the can to collapse.
C. The steam doesn't expand to occupy the vacuum; instead, the external air pressure pushes inward to fill the partial vacuum.
