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From: bill@utastro.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.misc,net.followup
Subject: Re: Firewalking
Message-ID: <206@utastro.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 11-Jul-84 14:51:24 EDT
Article-I.D.: utastro.206
Posted: Wed Jul 11 14:51:24 1984
Date-Received: Tue, 17-Jul-84 01:32:44 EDT
References: <352@vortex.UUCP>, <396@ames-lm.UUCP>
Organization: UTexas Astronomy Dept., Austin, Texas
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Xref: 1178 871

> All these dramatic acts demonstrate the same physical principle,
> though I don't recall the name; 'twas named after the guy who first discovered
> it, though (help, please, physicists?). The basic idea is that the water
> or liquid nitrogen, when put next to something *far* hotter than it is,
> flash-vaporizes so quickly that a protecting layer of vapor stands between
> the skin or tongue and the offending substance.

It's the Leidenfrost Effect.  I saw the person who stuck his finger in
molten lead -- quite impressive!
-- 

	Bill Jefferys  8-%
	Astronomy Dept, University of Texas, Austin TX 78712   (USnail)
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