Mystery of Prince Rupert's Drop at 130,000 fps - Smarter Every Day 86

Hey it's me Destin. Welcome back to Smarter Every Day. Today we're gonna do awesome science with

Orbix Hot Glass here at Lookout Mountain Alabama. Goggle up.

Science is about to happen. We're gonna use a high speed camera and learn about Prince Rupert's Drop.

[whispers] It's never been done on the internet. You're gonna learn something.

Let's go.

OK we are here inside the shop with

Cal. Cal owns the place. Can you show me how to make a Prince Rupert's Drop?

(Cal) Sure. I'm gonna gather some glass, drop it in a bucket of

cold water.

[sizzling sound]

(Destin) So after it cools down, this is what you're left with.

It kinda looks like a tadpole, but it has some really interesting mechanical properties.

We can actually hit this thing with a hammer and it won't break.

OK I'm ready. [bang] Didn't go.

OK I think Cal is kind of a pansy so I.. You think you can break it? [laugh]

So we're gonna try again only this time I'm gonna make him hit it really hard

and I'm gonna record it with high speed. Does that work? Think you can break it? Alright. Let's do it.

The challenge is on. (Cal) Just hit it? - Yep.