Home > Alternative Energy > Coke vs Mentos, CO2 Power

Fun uses alternative energy, too

There's a saying that goes, "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." Well, just in case things were getting a bit dull in the workshop, we decided to blow off $2 and some odd cents worth of a different type of energy: Soda-borne carbon dioxide. Since Dan's Workshop performs all projects in a very orderly and scientific fashion, below you will find the details of this, umm, alternative energy method and apparatus.

Only the best quality materials

This project is not original with me. Thanks to the experiments conducted by the dignified gentlemen at EepyBird.com, most of the research was already done. (Of course, these kinds of things need to be "peer reviewed" to prove whether or not they are truth, quack science, or simply urban legends.) Current studies have shown that Mentos™ and Diet Coke™ exhibit the most powerful and energetic chemical reactions.

Precision drilling setup

Mentos really could be hand drilled, but there is always the chance of the bit suddenly gouging through the mento, through my finger and then my toe, and into the concrete floor! So I elected to use my drill press and a 1/16" bit to do the job.

Drilling the Mentos

Everything lined up. Can't get that hole one micron off center, you know. The fizz might just come out sideways.

Finished Activator Bead

The Mento must hereafter be referred to as an Activator Bead. The hole through the center is for mounting on the Triggering Device.

Little bit o'zinc for the Diet

The Triggering Device is made from galvanized (zinc plated) wire, for a lack of better material to use. Plus, the zinc that leaches off into the leftover Diet Coke should help my psoriasis (that is if I end up getting any, the children will probably guzzle it, the little buzzards!).

The Activator Stack

Five Mentos should do the trick. The assembly has somewhat of a high voltage look to it, but there will be no discharges of electricity in this experiment.

Trigger mechanism

The wire is bent so that the Activator Stack can be kept raised until the final countdown. Then a slight nudge will plunge the Activator Stack down into the Diet Coke, releasing copious amounts of energ--uhh, carbon dioxide, aka "fizz."

Drilling out the nozzle

I thought a 5/32" sized hole should provide a significant wow factor. I think it was a bit small. But it did make a display of significant duration, rather than a sudden burst that died down quickly.

Experiment One, exploding the front porch

The whole family was present to observe. My wife was concerned for the safety of the front porch for this experiment. She suggested I move at least a few feet away from the steps. After all, some types of tests need to be done out in the desert, you know.

Click the picture to download a quicktime movie (13.5MB) of the front porch being violently blown off the house. (I needed to get under there to clean out the cat knuddles anyway.)

NOTE: I was a little jumpy myself, I admit, but there shall be NO LAUGHING when I am seen retreating a step or two from the pending reaction. More...