A related effect is the so-called "bologna bottle" used in magic tricks. The specially-prepared bottle or glass is shown to be unusually strong on the outside, can even drive a nail. But drop a small hard object inside, even a coin, and in a moment or two the whole thing shatters.
The glass is heated then rapidly cooled on the outside, with the inside cooling more slowly. This leaves the outside tempered, but enormous tension on the inside. The tiniest nano-crack on the inside propagates throughout the structure until the whole thing shatters.
"Common sense is wisdom with its sleeves rolled up." -Kyle Farnsworth "Freedom of Speech does not guarantee freedom from consequences." -Mike Rowe "Democracies aren't overthrown, they're given away." -George Lucas
Posts: 6880 | Location: IL, due south of the Arch | Registered: April 20, 2005
"we've gotta roll with the punches, learn to play all of our hunches Making the best of what ever comes our way Forget that blind ambition and learn to trust your intuition Plowing straight ahead come what may And theres a cowboy in the jungle" Jimmy Buffet
Posts: 10623 | Location: Southeast Tennessee...not far above my homestate Georgia | Registered: March 10, 2010
I had never heard of a Prince Rupert's Drop, that is pretty cool. Thanks for posting.
"But, as luck would have it, he stood up. He caught that chunk of lead." Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Hathcock "If there's one thing this last week has taught me, it's better to have a gun and not need it than to need a gun and not have it." Clarence Worley
Nice. Less than half the velocity of a detonation, but still cool.
________________________________________
-- Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past me I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain. --
Posts: 17779 | Location: New Mexico | Registered: October 14, 2005
...thank you FishOn for starting this thread and Redleg06 for the link...that was very cool!
