The Giant Alcohol Cannon

This demonstration is an excellent way to show the flammability of ethanol vapors. When a flame is brought near the ignition hole of a “charged” cannon, the foam ball can be shot 50–60 feet away! Teachers must be sure to exercise proper safety precautions, but this demonstration is just too good to pass up! The PVC pipe materials are inexpensive and readily available from Home Depot, and the foam balls are commonly found at toy stores and Walmart.