What Would Happen in a Vacuum Chamber?

In summary: Thanks for the correction.In summary, in a sealed container of water placed in a vacuum chamber, the water will stay at a constant or close to its original temperature due to its lack of expansion like air. Placing this container in a sub-zero environment will not affect the temperature of the water. Similarly, if a sealed balloon with a small amount of air is placed inside the container, there will be no change in pressure or size due to the incompressibility of water. This scenario is similar to a Thermos bottle, which utilizes a vacuum between double-walled glass to maintain temperature. Additionally, heat can dissipate through radiation alone, without the need for a medium. However, the rate of heat transfer is proportional to the difference in the
  • #1
billbaty
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What would happen under these circumstances:

A sealed container of water in a vacuum chamber. Since water doesn't expand like air, I assume that there would be no extra pressure within the sealed container once the air was evacuated around it. Since there would be no, or very little air surrounding the container, and since heat requires a medium to dissipate, would the temperature of the water inside the container stay virtually constant or close to the temperature it was when placed into the vacuum chamber? If the vacuum chamber was placed in a sub-zero environment would the water still stay around its original temperature?

Also, while on the vacuum topic, since the air in a sealed balloon will expand and blow up large in a vacuum, what would happen if that sealed balloon with a small amount of air would be placed into the above example's sealed container of water in a vacuum chamber? Would there be no extra pressure inside the container and therefore the balloon will stay its same size?
 
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For your second question, since water is effectively incompressible, the balloon immersed in water won't expand. The pressure will change as you change the temperature, but the volume will stay the same.
 
  • #4
Heat does NOT require a medium to dissipate. Heat transfer cooling by radiation alone occurs at a rate proportional to the fourth power of the difference in absolute temperature.

Be careful of how you are measuring your pressure, absolute or gauge. Water in an elastic container will still boil when the vapor pressure exceeds the applied pressure.

Water does have a bulk modulus of elasticity compressibility.
 
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  • #5
Doug Huffman said:
Heat does NOT require a medium to dissipate. Heat transfer cooling by radiation alone occurs at a rate proportional to the fourth root of the difference in absolute temperature.

indeed ! :)

a lack of a medium only takes care of 2 of the 3 methods of heat transfer ( conduction and convection)
IR radiation doesn't require a medium

Dave
 
  • #6
Doug Huffman said:
Heat transfer cooling by radiation alone occurs at a rate proportional to the fourth root of the difference in absolute temperature.
I think the rate is proportional to the difference in the fourth power of absolute temperature, not the fourth root.
##P = \sigma_{SB} \epsilon_1 \epsilon_2 (T_1^4-T_2^4)##
 
  • #7
Khashishi said:
I think the rate is proportional to the difference in the fourth power of absolute temperature, not the fourth root.
You are of course correct.
 

1. What would happen to a human in a vacuum chamber?

In a vacuum chamber, the air pressure would decrease rapidly due to the absence of air molecules. This would cause the blood and bodily fluids of a human to begin to boil and ultimately lead to death.

2. Would objects float or sink in a vacuum chamber?

In a vacuum chamber, objects would appear to float due to the lack of air resistance and gravity. However, they would not actually be floating as they are still affected by the force of gravity.

3. How would fire behave in a vacuum chamber?

In a vacuum chamber, fire would not be able to sustain itself as it requires oxygen to continue burning. The lack of oxygen in a vacuum would cause the fire to extinguish.

4. What would happen to sound in a vacuum chamber?

In a vacuum chamber, there would be no medium for sound waves to travel through. This means that sound would not be able to travel and therefore cannot be heard.

5. Would a vacuum chamber be completely empty?

No, a vacuum chamber is not completely empty. It is a controlled environment where the air pressure is significantly lower than the surrounding atmosphere. There may still be some residual air molecules present in the chamber.

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