Simple, probably flawed in some respects, explanation: The liquid is super cooled to the point where it would normally freeze. It doesn't because the water molecules aren't crystallizing - as with the string in the sugar solution (for rock candy) the liquid has to have some sort of crevice, dirt, or other imperfection introduced in order to start the chain of crystals. However, a sudden blow release carbon bubbles which can start the process. The fact that the bottle is very clean, the liquid is carbonated and under pressure helps with the super cooling. Removing the cap would also have the same sudden freezing effect - it's not something you can easily do with just plain water. You can see this effect to some degree with soda pop* by cooling it below freezing, and then opening it. -Adam * "soda pop" combines the two most common words, but I still don't know how to easily include you who use "coke" to mean generic carbonated drink. Sorry, you lose. On 4/25/07, Joshua Shriver wrote: > How does this work? > > On 4/25/07, Peter P. wrote: > > Excellent short video shows the results. Supercooled beer turns solid on camera > > when bottle is knocked. > > > > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfkHS_58yvs > > > > (I post this here because it is physics related. honest) > > Peter P. > > > > > > -- > > http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive > > View/change your membership options at > > http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist > > > -- > http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive > View/change your membership options at > http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist > -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Moving in southeast Michigan? Buy my house: http://ubasics.com/house/ Interested in electronics? Check out the projects at http://ubasics.com Building your own house? Check out http://ubasics.com/home/ -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist