Don't lose faith in the next generation

[zenjim]

So I wake up Sunday morning and see this at the kitchen table:



So son, "What are you doing?"
"Using this photovoltaic cell to help me separate the hydrogen in the water and capture it in this test tube."
"Oh...That's nice."

Contrary to what I am bombarded with in the media, the positivity and smarts I see in the next generation fills me with hope.

[il d00d]

Damnit, you're getting hydrogen all over the kitchen table.  Go to your room.


No, that's pretty awesome    Gives me hope that my son and I will be mocking up a Mr Fusion for his science project.  

[Artful]

While that's all well and good, unless he was then using that hydrogen to go blow the shit out of something I'm still skeptical.

[Buckethead]

Damnit, you're getting hydrogen all over the kitchen ceiling.  Go to your room.

Fixed.

My initial thought was something along the lines of "What can a 12 year old do with hydrogen gas that doesn't involve 'splosions? ...Not coming up with anything."

[Timmy Tucker]

What could possibly go wrong?


Seriously though, that's super cool he's into that stuff.  I was the stereotypical mad scientist kid w/ a huge chemistry set.

[erkishhorde]

Damn hippies and their long hair!

[ducatiz]

You chump.

The kid is testing out a new method of making methamphetamine.  He's an entrepreneur!

[rgramjet]

Fixed.

My initial thought was something along the lines of "What can a 12 year old do with hydrogen gas that doesn't involve 'splosions? ...Not coming up with anything."

The lit candle will prevent any 'splosions......just a quick wooosh!

[zooom]

Contrary to what I am bombarded with in the media, the positivity and smarts I see in the next generation fills me with hope.

'


unfortunately, this is the small minority, whilst the majority are making iPhone apps for to tell people what and or how to take care of the elderly so they don't have to study or think about it....

[RAT900]

IIRC zinc and hydrochloric acid made a decent amount of hydrogen gas...

yeah what kid still asks for a chemistry set these days?

[CairnsDuc]

While that's all well and good, unless he was then using that hydrogen to go blow the shit out of something I'm still skeptical.

Thankfully I wasn't the only one thinking that! 

I remember the time a Friend and I were about to blow up something in the Backyard (Can't remember what it was)
and his Dad came out of the house and yelled out "What are you to doing?" we thought we were in big trouble, he turns
to his Dad, voice trembling because we both thought we were in deep trouble. "We are going to blow up this thing!"

His Father stands there for a few seconds (We were both crapping our Pants by this stage)

His Dad gets breaks out in a smile and turns to walk away, he stops and looks back.......

"Just don't blow anything up near the house ok?"

Best Day of Explosions ever! 

[Buckethead]

IIRC zinc and hydrochloric acid made a decent amount of hydrogen gas...

True. I remember using it to make test tubes "chirp" or "bark."

But if you get it from electrolysis you don't have to worry about caustic chemicals. Just, you know, electricity and water. Plus you're not limited by the strength of the acid. You can make as much as you "need."

One of my high school science teachers used an electrolysis setup to make enough to fill a balloon. While it was floating up at the ceiling, he took a metal rod and rubbed a piece of nylon fabric up and down it generating a static charge. Brought the two together and made his own little "mini-Hindenburg," leaving nothing more than a light smudge on the drop ceiling.

Also, please don't misinterpret my previous post. I think it's awesome that he's interested in science and doing stuff like that in his free time, rather than, say, playing video games. 

[badgalbetty]

   you should be very proud!

[Monster Dave]

Proud and scared.

Here's the conversation before it was edited:

So son, "What are you doing?"
"Using this photovoltaic cell to help me separate the hydrogen in the water and capture it in this test tube."
"Oh...That's nice. What are you doing that for?"
"Ever since Mr. Willson's son Biff put a snake in our mail box that bit me, I've been trying to figure out a way to get back at him. So I decided that I'd make a bomb and blow theirs up - but first I'm going to fill it with rotten eggs, so when it blows up it will scatter rotten eggs all over the front of their house."
"Oh...That's nice.....no wait.....what???"

[zenjim]

 

You guys are killing me.