The First Four-Way Remote-Control Release Mechanism for Diet Coke and Mentos Eruptions by Ryan Johnson and Will Graziano
Ever since the discovery of the Diet Coke and Mentos phenomenon, numerous experiments have been done for the betterment of science, for "cool factor," or simply for fun. However, we have for a long time been barred from reaching our true potential in the extremity of these experiments for fear of being covered in sticky, fizzy Diet Coke. Many have wondered, "How can we release the Mentos into the Coke without getting soaked? And how can we do multiple releases simultaneously without the need for multiple people to do it manually?" My colleague, Will, and I wondered the very same thing; we wanted to perform a spectacular four-way simultaneous eruption from a safe distance using a remote control device - and after much brainstorming and several different plans, we found a way to do just that. The Experiment Using a table which was approximately .75 meters by 1 meter as our surface, we fixed the engine of a remote control car on its side to the middle, and built a special four-way hook device to hold (and release) fishing lines which would be connected to the Mentos. Four posts of approximately 30 centimeters were fixed to the corners of the table, one in each corner, to which one bottle of Diet Coke each was also secured. With four lengths of fishing line, three Mentos each, and one paper clip each, we devised a line which would hold the Mentos up inside the bottle until the device was activated. When activated, the remote control car engine at the center and the hook device attached to it would spin, unhooking all four lines at the same time and thereby releasing the Mentos into the bottles. Summary of Findings The device, crude though it was, worked just about perfectly - however, we found that the remote control car we used for the experiment was faulty and did not run immediately, so in future experiments a more reliable engine should be used. The result was a spectacular quadruple geyser of Diet Coke spraying into the air, and much applause from our classmates. Conclusions 9