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Thread: Who taps a can before opening it?

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    www.jasontbarker.com speedminded's Avatar
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    Default Who taps a can before opening it?

    What are the reasons for doing it and how do you know it works?

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    keeps gettin' better roxie911's Avatar
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    people do it to keep it from spraying everywhere if they've dropped it. Idk if it works, but hey...better safe than sorry

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    www.jasontbarker.com speedminded's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by roxie911 View Post
    people do it to keep it from spraying everywhere if they've dropped it. Idk if it works, but hey...better safe than sorry
    Basically, people don't know if it actually does anything or not but they do it anyways just in case?

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    keeps gettin' better roxie911's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by speedminded View Post
    Basically, people don't know if it actually does anything or not but they do it anyways just in case?
    Pretty much lol

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    Quote Originally Posted by speedminded View Post
    justin case
    i've seen him on the safe auto commercial...
    my attitude is celibate, I DON'T GIVE A FUCK!!!!
    gully side movement.
    from slavery to president!

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    Adrenaline Junkie loverboy_gnd's Avatar
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    i jus open it and chug.... i see people tapping it but im lost as to y they do it, would be interesting to see ppls answers

    CANT STOP WHAT YOU CANT CATCH
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    Senior Member | IA Veteran quickdodgeŽ's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by speedminded View Post
    What are the reasons for doing it and how do you know it works?
    I've never understood the purpose of that, either.

    Someone enlighten us, please. Later, QD.
    FOR MORE INFO, CLICK THE PIC!!!


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    Banned STRteg's Avatar
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    People tap on soda cans to avoid a soda explosion from a can that has been shaken up. Tapping may, in fact, decrease the likelihood of such an explosion, but a positive outcome is not guaranteed.

    Why do people tap on these cans?

    Carbonated beverages contain dissolved carbon-dioxide gas. The way to get gas to dissolve in liquid is to pressurize the mixture, meaning that the pressure inside a soda can is greater than the pressure outside the can. This is why you see little bubbles spray out when you open a soda can -- breaking the seal depressurizes the mixture, causing the gas to come out of solution, starting with the gas closest to the top (that's where the pressure decrease starts). Because gas is lighter than liquid, as soon as it comes out of solution, it rises to escape the can. When it escapes, it carries with it a small amount of liquid from the very top of the can because that liquid is blocking its path.

    When you shake a soda can, some of the gas comes out of solution. There are a bunch of carbon dioxide bubbles clinging to the inside of the can, trying to get out. When you open this can and the gas rises to escape, it doesn't only push on the liquid at the very top of the can. Because gas bubbles are stuck to the top, sides and bottom of the can, they force all of the liquid out because all of the liquid is blocking their upward path.

    When you tap on the can, you knock bubbles off the bottom and sides of the can, at which point they rise to the top (because gas is lighter than liquid) and there is only a small amount of liquid blocking their escape when you open the can.

    Unfortunately, there's no way to tell how many of the bubbles you've displaced in your tapping effort. The wisest course of action is to let the can sit for a while so the gas has time to redissolve. But if you're too thirsty to wait, tapping gently on the can and then slowly popping the top (so the drop in pressure is less sudden) will certainly decrease your chances of getting drenched.

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    www.jasontbarker.com speedminded's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by STRteg View Post
    People tap on soda cans to avoid a soda explosion from a can that has been shaken up. Tapping may, in fact, decrease the likelihood of such an explosion, but a positive outcome is not guaranteed.

    Why do people tap on these cans?

    Carbonated beverages contain dissolved carbon-dioxide gas. The way to get gas to dissolve in liquid is to pressurize the mixture, meaning that the pressure inside a soda can is greater than the pressure outside the can. This is why you see little bubbles spray out when you open a soda can -- breaking the seal depressurizes the mixture, causing the gas to come out of solution, starting with the gas closest to the top (that's where the pressure decrease starts). Because gas is lighter than liquid, as soon as it comes out of solution, it rises to escape the can. When it escapes, it carries with it a small amount of liquid from the very top of the can because that liquid is blocking its path.

    When you shake a soda can, some of the gas comes out of solution. There are a bunch of carbon dioxide bubbles clinging to the inside of the can, trying to get out. When you open this can and the gas rises to escape, it doesn't only push on the liquid at the very top of the can. Because gas bubbles are stuck to the top, sides and bottom of the can, they force all of the liquid out because all of the liquid is blocking their upward path.

    When you tap on the can, you knock bubbles off the bottom and sides of the can, at which point they rise to the top (because gas is lighter than liquid) and there is only a small amount of liquid blocking their escape when you open the can.

    Unfortunately, there's no way to tell how many of the bubbles you've displaced in your tapping effort. The wisest course of action is to let the can sit for a while so the gas has time to redissolve. But if you're too thirsty to wait, tapping gently on the can and then slowly popping the top (so the drop in pressure is less sudden) will certainly decrease your chances of getting drenched.
    So if you tapped on the heads of deep sea divers while they're rising to the surface they wouldn't get the bends?

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    Adrenaline Junkie loverboy_gnd's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by speedminded View Post
    So if you tapped on the heads of deep sea divers while they're rising to the surface they wouldn't get the bends?
    LOL

    CANT STOP WHAT YOU CANT CATCH
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    Adrenaline Junkie loverboy_gnd's Avatar
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    Compliments TLC Cooking

    go here if you wanan read the full thing... http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/question602.htm/ but basically:

    People tap on soda cans to avoid a soda explosion from a can that has been shaken up. Tapping may, in fact, decrease the likelihood of such an explosion, but a positive outcome is not guaranteed. When you tap on the can, you knock bubbles off the bottom and sides of the can, at which point they rise to the top (because gas is lighter than liquid) and there is only a small amount of liquid blocking their escape when you open the can. Unfortunately, there's no way to tell how many of the bubbles you've displaced in your tapping effort

    hope that helps out a lil

    ^^ dude beat me to it but w/e

    CANT STOP WHAT YOU CANT CATCH
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    Quote Originally Posted by loverboy_gnd View Post
    Compliments TLC Cooking

    go here if you wanan read the full thing... http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/question602.htm/ but basically:

    People tap on soda cans to avoid a soda explosion from a can that has been shaken up. Tapping may, in fact, decrease the likelihood of such an explosion, but a positive outcome is not guaranteed. When you tap on the can, you knock bubbles off the bottom and sides of the can, at which point they rise to the top (because gas is lighter than liquid) and there is only a small amount of liquid blocking their escape when you open the can. Unfortunately, there's no way to tell how many of the bubbles you've displaced in your tapping effort

    hope that helps out a lil

    ^^ dude beat me to it but w/e
    lol too quick

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    Adrenaline Junkie loverboy_gnd's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by STRteg View Post
    lol too quick
    yh i was like damn dude lol

    CANT STOP WHAT YOU CANT CATCH
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    Southern Belle
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    i hit the bottom of the tab bcus it makes it easier to get it open.
    i have finger nails and i cant get under it

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    The One and Only Nemesis's Avatar
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    I STAB MY SHIT ON THE SIDE WITH A PEN AND CHUG IT

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    Stang Mod slostang's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Nemesis View Post
    I STAB MY SHIT ON THE SIDE WITH A PEN AND CHUG IT
    x3
    Quote Originally Posted by Echonova View Post
    And I do drive a Miata, so I am gayer than a three dollar bill...

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    Новак 5speed's Avatar
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    I hit jar tops with a spoon. It makes it easier to open. As for soda, I wouldn't ever do that.

    Quote Originally Posted by Dirty Octopus™ View Post
    yeah thats all you got cuz shortly after that picture you accepted tasteful wheels and better fitment into your life as your Lowered and Savior.

    Amen.

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    Mythbusters did this and it works better if you tap the sides of the can instead of the top. You'll just look like an idiot doing it.

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    www.jasontbarker.com speedminded's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by m.prus View Post
    Mythbusters did this and it works better if you tap the sides of the can instead of the top. You'll just look like an idiot doing it.
    Bingo. I haven't seen the episode but even after pouring a glass of carbonated drink you can tell where the bubble are. The sides of the can or glass have the most real estate for the bubbles to adhere to so the idea is to get the bubbles to the TOP where the air space is...

    Tapping the top of the can will not do anything more than picking your nose for 5 seconds before opening it. Even doing 10 pushups then opening it will be more effective than tapping the top lol! It's that time for the bubbles to get to the top after being disturbed is what is needed.

    Tapping the top will in no way assist the bubbles going to the top any more than the time spent doing it.

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    Back in GA Bajjani's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by speedminded View Post
    Bingo. I haven't seen the episode but even after pouring a glass of carbonated drink you can tell where the bubble are. The sides of the can or glass have the most real estate for the bubbles to adhere to so the idea is to get the bubbles to the TOP where the air space is...

    Tapping the top of the can will not do anything more than picking your nose for 5 seconds before opening it. Even doing 10 pushups then opening it will be more effective than tapping the top lol! It's that time for the bubbles to get to the top after being disturbed is what is needed.

    Tapping the top will in no way assist the bubbles going to the top any more than the time spent doing it.
    How do you figure?

    Of course I own this.
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    www.jasontbarker.com speedminded's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Okie_doke. View Post
    It just does.....
    How do you know it works? You can't test both ways on the same can...

    Quote Originally Posted by Bajjani View Post
    How do you figure?
    Because for the last 30 years there have been clear plastic bottles allowing you to see exactly how carbon dioxide rises since it's lighter than air. Do you see people tap the top of 2-liter plastic bottles before opening?

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    Quote Originally Posted by speedminded View Post

    Because for the last 30 years there have been clear plastic bottles allowing you to see exactly how carbon dioxide rises since it's lighter than air. Do you see people tap the top of 2-liter plastic bottles before opening?
    I do... especially if it has been rolling around in my front seat or floorboard of my car...... no spray guaranteed. lol
    I got free clear tails with my ride.....

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    Something Else Kevykev's Avatar
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    Wifey does it, i'll be sure to update her.

    Leisa and S. 4 Life NM?

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    Guilty

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    to keep it from spraying everywhere is a myth, tapping it does nothing. there is another way however that is top secret

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    Quote Originally Posted by speedminded View Post
    What are the reasons for doing it and how do you know it works?
    It just does.....

    Quote Originally Posted by oneSLOWex View Post
    maybe some people like tasting teh dookiez?

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    Senior Member | IA Veteran Catnip's Avatar
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