Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: thedoc on 28/10/2016 11:53:01

Title: When you pour hot water over a teabag it rapidly swells then shrinks. Why?
Post by: thedoc on 28/10/2016 11:53:01

Rob Kamstra asked the Naked Scientists:
   When one pours boiling water over a teabag, it rapidly swells up, almost to bursting point, then subsides. Why?
What do you think?

Title: Re: When you pour water over a teabag it rapidly swells then subsides, why?
Post by: Colin2B on 28/10/2016 15:38:57

My guess would be that the small amounts of air trapped in between the tea particles expands with the heat pushing the bag out and then dissolves into the surrounding water allowing the bag to fall back.

Any other thoughts anyone?