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Path: utzoo!lsuc!pesnta!epimass!oliveb!felix!daver
From: daver@felix.UUCP (Dave Richards)
Newsgroups: net.movies
Subject: Re: New "Raiders of the Lost Ark" question
Message-ID: <880@felix.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 14-Feb-86 17:42:47 EST
Article-I.D.: felix.880
Posted: Fri Feb 14 17:42:47 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 15-Feb-86 22:55:29 EST
References: <1930@rayssd.UUCP> <1931@rayssd.UUCP> <134@ucdavis.UUCP> <1088@ude <649@well.UUCP>
Reply-To: daver@felix.UUCP (Dave Richards)
Organization: FileNet Corp., Costa Mesa, CA
Lines: 35

>
>In article <1088@udenva.UUCP>, showard@udenva.UUCP (Mr. Blore) writes:
>
> 
>  Here one that bothered me in IJATTOD:  When Indy and the blonde and the lit
>tle
> tyke are in the plane with no fuel, they jump out just before the plane hits
> a
> mountain and blows up.  What blew up?
> 
> -- 
> Mr. Blore, the DJ who would not die

First of all, gasoline does not burn or explode.  Gasoline VAPOR, when mixed
with oxygen or air containing oxygen, becomes explosive.  So what's an empty
gasoline tank filled with?  Air and evaporated gasoline!  A perfect bomb
just looking for an excuse to go off!

Oh sure, you may see large areas of ground catch fire when gasoline is 
spilled, but there's not likely to be an explosion.

A friend of mine who's dad used to drive a gasoline tanker truck said
that he was only worried when driving with empty tanks...

Here's an interesting experiment:  Fill a very small container to the rim
with gasoline (like a baby jar lid).  Try to light the gasoline by tossing
matches from several feet away.  If the container is filled TO THE RIM,
it is practically impossible to light.  But if there is a small amount of
gasoline in the bottom, it will light readily (the container walls allow
vapor to collect).

DISCLAIMER:  Don't try this except outdoors in the dirt, with several
fire trucks present, etc, etc.

Dave "Sparky" Richards