Title: Comparing Mentos Eruptions of Diet Coke as opposed to JOLT energy supplement By Dylan and Trevor Summary: We decided to compare the Mentos eruption using diet coke with that of JOLT energy supplement. Unfortunately, The reaction using JOLT energy supplement failed to produce a reaction. However, we discovered that the key ingredients in Diet Soda that causes the violent reaction with mentos are Potassium Benzoate and Aspartame. Introduction There is no information prior to our experimentation that could possibly confirm or deny the possible allegations that “liquid energy supplements” do or do not cause a “reaction” with.mentos. The reason that We decided to do our test using liquid energy supplements was by reasoning that synthetic ingredients in the soda cause the reaction. This was found to bot be the case and JOLT energy supplement failed to produce a reaction. However, it led to us to take a closer look at our ingredients, and to discover that Potassium Benzoate and Aspartame are the causes of the reaction with mentos. Experimental 1. Gather Materials (JOLT Energy supplement, copious amounts of Mentos.) 2. Set up controlled environment 3. Don Goggles (no other protective gear required) 4. Create mentos dropping apparatus: mold paper tube to slightly larger diameter to that of the mentos roll, use tape (any kind) to keep in place. Run a toothpick through the extreme on one end, across the diameter. Drop mentos in other side of tube, until full. 5. Suspend full mentos dropping apparatus above can of JOLT, then open can of JOLT and release mentos (remove toothpick from the bottom end of apparatus) 6. STEP BACK. 7. Record data, clean up materials. Results 1 inch eruption Conclusions Our conclusion is that Energy drinks are not the best reactive substance, nowhere near diet coke’s potency. To achieve maximum effect, use as much diet coke as possible, with as many mentos as possible, as unfortunately energy drinks simply cannot produce the desired reaction. There may have been some room for error in the preparation state, perhaps they were shaken up at one point or another, unbeknownst to us, causing them to loose carbonation. If we could do it again, we would definitely use diet coke instead of energy drinks, to achieve maximum explosion. References 1. www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZDFn4VFe9s&feature=related
27