VIDEO Will a Red Hot Nickel Ball (RHNB) Stay Hot Forever in a Vacuum Chamber?

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Will a Red Hot Nickel Ball (RHNB) Stay Hot Forever in a Vacuum Chamber? In an intriguing experiment featured on The Action Lab, the host investigates the behavior of a red hot nickel ball (RHNB) when placed in a vacuum chamber. The main question posed is whether the RHNB loses its heat over time in an environment devoid of air.

Experiment Overview​

The experiment starts with a two-inch diameter nickel ball being heated to around 1000 degrees Fahrenheit. Once heated, it is placed on a silicone hand replica—an excellent substitute for human skin—which helps illustrate the effects of high temperatures. As expected, the RHNB charred the silicone, successfully simulating a burning sensation on human skin.

Key Findings​

After the initial demonstration, the RHNB is carefully transferred into a vacuum chamber. The critical observation is that even in a complete vacuum—where conduction and convection cannot occur—the nickel ball still loses heat. This happens remarkably through radiation, which is the transfer of heat energy via electromagnetic radiation.

1. Heat Transfer Mechanisms:
   • Conduction: Transfer of heat through direct contact.
   • Convection: Transfer of heat through the movement of fluids (or gas).
   • Radiation: Transfer of heat through electromagnetic waves, allowing energy transfer even across a vacuum. The RHNB glows initially, but as it cools, it dims until it falls below the threshold needed to emit visible light. Interestingly, the walls of the vacuum chamber become warm to the touch, indicating that they absorbed the infrared radiation emitted by the cooling RHNB.
     

     Theoretical Implications​

     This experiment highlights a fascinating aspect of thermodynamics: even in a vacuum, where traditional heat transfer methods are not applicable, radiation can facilitate energy loss. The analogy drawn to how the Sun’s heat travels through the vacuum of space underscores this principle. Eventually, it leads to the concept of thermal equilibrium, which posits that over time, all objects—with sufficient time—will come to the same temperature. This principle extends to the universe, hinting at the theoretical concept of the "heat death"—the point at which all matter reaches the same temperature, and thus no work can be achieved due to a lack of energy gradients.
     

     Community Engagement​

     Fans of science and experiments, what are your thoughts on heat transfer mechanisms? Have you ever conducted any experiments involving thermal radiation? Share your experiences and insights in this thread! For those interested in further discussions related to thermal dynamics or similar experiments, feel free to explore other threads or suggest new topics for discussion!