Name: Palm Glass
Category: Thermodynamics
Subcategory: Change of State
Classes:
Comments:
The palm glass demonstrates the contrasting effects of heat and gravity on a volatile liquid. It consists of two glass bulbs connected by a glass tube. The glass is partially filled with a colored liquid, such as methylene chloride, having a low vapor point. The air in the tube has been partially evacuated. The fluid with the low vapor point will evaporate with a relatively low input of thermal energy. Once the fluid reaches the upper bulb, it will cool and return to the liquid state. After it flows back down to the hand held bulb, the process repeats.