Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Chemistry => Topic started by: John Doubell on 29/01/2009 21:30:02

Title: Is glass a liquid?
Post by: John Doubell on 29/01/2009 21:30:02: John Doubell asked the Naked Scientists:

Dear Chris

I listen to your show on 702 in South Africa as often as I can on Friday mornings and am hugely impressed at the range of your knowledge.

I appreciate that you must be extremely busy and will not be too miffed if you cannot reply.

I was recently in the Karoo (arid, desert like area in the Cape ) and at an extremely old house I noticed that the window panes were bulging slightly on either side at the bottom. I asked the farmer if he knew the reason and he said that glass was essentially a liquid and over time would run and settle, almost like toffee. Was he correct?

Kind Regards
JOHN DOUBELL

What do you think?
Title: Is glass a liquid?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 29/01/2009 22:49:12: Was it stained glass? I think it is more to do with the window not being fitted properly.
Title: Is glass a liquid?
Post by: Karsten on 02/02/2009 22:18:23: I heard that too. Glass is supposed to be a liquid not a solid. Older glass often is wavy as if it is slowly running downhill. I wonder if it has to do with the process of making it though. Maybe they learned how to make it completely flat just a little while ago. The windows in my 100 year old house are quite wavy. Clear glass, by the way.
Title: Is glass a liquid?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 02/02/2009 22:42:58: If the glass is held in place tightly, it should stay flat.
Title: Is glass a liquid?
Post by: JnA on 02/02/2009 22:47:07: I agree that's it's probably more the process of window making that has caused the inconsistency. If I were hanging a pane of glass and one end was clearly heavier or bulkier, common sense would tell me to place that end at the bottom.
Title: Is glass a liquid?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 02/02/2009 22:57:16: Quote from: JnA on 02/02/2009 22:47:07
If I were hanging a pane of glass and one end was clearly heavier or bulkier, common sense would tell me to place that end at the bottom.
Why? [???]
Title: Is glass a liquid?
Post by: erickejah on 03/02/2009 03:22:07: Something about that was explained in history channel, I wish I remember what they said. [:-\] "i have to stop using my wi-fi" [:-'(]
Title: Is glass a liquid?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 03/02/2009 03:25:46: Haha, you and your history channel [:D] what about the discovery channel?
Title: Is glass a liquid?
Post by: erickejah on 03/02/2009 04:11:25: Quote from: Chemistry4me on 03/02/2009 03:25:46
Haha, you and your history channel [:D] what about the discovery channel?
nope is an absolute distraction for my studies, then i have to struggle with my time. [:-\]
Title: Is glass a liquid?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 03/02/2009 04:12:57: Don't you have to head off to bed too?
Title: Is glass a liquid?
Post by: erickejah on 03/02/2009 04:16:53: Quote from: Chemistry4me on 03/02/2009 04:12:57
Don't you have to head off to bed too?
i need to finish my homework 1st. [:-\]
Title: Is glass a liquid?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 03/02/2009 04:18:17: You haven't finished your homework?!!! What time is it there?
Title: Is glass a liquid?
Post by: erickejah on 03/02/2009 04:18:59: Quote from: Chemistry4me on 03/02/2009 04:18:17
You haven't finished your homework?!!! What time is it there?
11:20pm
Title: Is glass a liquid?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 03/02/2009 04:20:25: Well, you had better get your homework done then buddy. [:)]
Title: Is glass a liquid?
Post by: erickejah on 03/02/2009 04:27:22: yep. 2.99792854*10^8
Title: Is glass a liquid?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 03/02/2009 04:28:07: Speed of light?
----
In a vacuum
Title: Is glass a liquid?
Post by: Bored chemist on 03/02/2009 08:47:49: Glass bottles from Roman times are still bottle shaped. Glass doesn't flow.
Title: Is glass a liquid?
Post by: erickejah on 03/02/2009 23:02:24: Quote from: Chemistry4me on 03/02/2009 04:28:07
Speed of light?
----
In a vacuum

sip, and 1 meter= to 1/2.99792458*10^8, i think [::)]
*In a vacuum
Title: Is glass a liquid?
Post by: erickejah on 03/02/2009 23:03:17: metallic glass: http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2008/metallic-glass-1218.html (http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2008/metallic-glass-1218.html)
Title: Is glass a liquid?
Post by: erickejah on 03/02/2009 23:04:30: Quote from: Bored chemist on 03/02/2009 08:47:49
Glass bottles from Roman times are still bottle shaped. Glass doesn't flow.
were the bottles buried?
Title: Is glass a liquid?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 03/02/2009 23:06:34: Nah, they were kept in a COOL wine cellar.
Title: Is glass a liquid?
Post by: erickejah on 03/02/2009 23:40:54: [>:(]. is because the pressure of the earth may have kept its shape, like a cast mold...

Quote
Glasses are solids whose structure is essentially that of a liquid, with atoms arranged randomly instead of in the ordered patterns of a crystal. Generally, they are produced by quickly cooling a material from a molten state, a process called quenching.
from:http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2008/metallic-glass-1218.html (http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2008/metallic-glass-1218.html)
Title: Is glass a liquid?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 03/02/2009 23:42:10: I was kidding! [:D] I don't really know!
Title: Is glass a liquid?
Post by: JnA on 05/02/2009 21:50:58: Quote from: Chemistry4me on 02/02/2009 22:57:16
Quote from: JnA on 02/02/2009 22:47:07
If I were hanging a pane of glass and one end was clearly heavier or bulkier, common sense would tell me to place that end at the bottom.
Why? [???]

um, so I don't get clonked on the head trying to hang it. Would you put the thicker, weightier end at the top?
Title: Is glass a liquid?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 05/02/2009 21:52:38: What do you mean exactly by "hanging a pane of glass"? [???][???][???][???]Cause I have no idea [???][???][???][???]
Title: Is glass a liquid?
Post by: JnA on 05/02/2009 22:05:35: Setting it in the window frame.

(what's with all this karma and how come I don't have any?)
Title: Is glass a liquid?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 05/02/2009 22:10:26: You do now!
Title: Is glass a liquid?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 05/02/2009 22:11:53: Hmmmm... when I tried to do another one, this popped up:

An Error has Occurred!

Sorry, you can't repeat a karma action without waiting 1 hours.
Title: Is glass a liquid?
Post by: JnA on 05/02/2009 22:27:56: Quote from: Chemistry4me on 05/02/2009 22:11:53
Hmmmm... when I tried to do another one, this popped up:

An Error has Occurred!

Sorry, you can't repeat a karma action without waiting 1 hours.

perfect.. even the internet doesn't believe in my karma.
Title: Is glass a liquid?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 05/02/2009 22:29:18: Yep, that is correct!