Champagne

[ianhwood]

Ey up lads

My mate is going trecking to Everest base camp and is thinking of taking a bottle of champers to celebrate when he gets there.
Weve had loads fo discussions in the pub, but nobody knows what will happen when it's opened.
Will it be flat or explode all over the place.
Any ideas.
It's 5,5000meters.

[Drift]

Ive just sold a pair of boots that are on there way to the base camp this season  wish I was in them  :(

Anyway I reckon it will explode, as when your at altitude , say over 8000 feet ( that generally when altitude sickness can kick in,) the pressure drops so gases, oxegen, air ect expands, this is what causes the sickness, makes your brain feel like its coming out of your ears ( believe me) added with the lack of oxegen in the air and your body being starved of oxegen makes you need more breaths per footstep.

Ive heard rumors of air bubbles trapped in old fasion tooth fillings expanding and shattering teeth, not sure how true that is though.

So I reckon it will explode, but thats only if it hasnt frozen first  :lol: :lol:

[diggerdog36]

The drop in pressure at 5500 will mean that as soon as the bottle is opened it will be like it would if it was shook up.  Thats if it hasnt already popped on the way up.  The pressure inside the bottle normally at sea level would be about 60psi.

In short, it will explode all over the place when opened. If it gets that far!!!

[Bouncy]

will it get out of the airport?
having just dented my new ceiling with a cork last week think you might want extra safety gear. Will ask the house Physicist for more info

[TDi90]

it will explode.
rob (the physicist)

[Disco Matt]

The secret to controlling champagne at sea level is to chill it for some time before opening - do that and it won't open explosively. I can't comment on what it will do at altitude but suspect it will shoot the cork out before the bottle explodes.

[Grumpy]

Sounds like a Job for Mythbusters :)

[Thrasher]

My Dad and my brother are off that way too - I dropped them off at Heathrow at the weekend. Will see them in 3 weeks time, lucky gits  :twisted:

It'll be Dads second time in 2 years :)

[Lord Shagg-Pyle]

the pressure drops so gases, oxegen, air ect expands, this is what causes the sickness, makes your brain feel like its coming out of your ears ( believe me) added with the lack of oxegen in the air and your body being starved of oxegen makes you need more breaths per footstep.

Ive heard rumors of air bubbles trapped in old fasion tooth fillings expanding and shattering teeth, not sure how true that is though.

So I reckon it will explode, but thats only if it hasnt frozen first  :lol: :lol:

But thats what happens when I drink champagne anyway. Plus I burp alot, say strange things to people I don't know, and usually honk everywhere.

[kizz81]

if gas expands so much when you get to that altitude what will happen if you drink it  :lol:

[Drift]

 :lol: your all mad  :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Bouncy]

well the in house Physicist , Dr. House Boy has said that one of three things could happen.

1. It will fizz so rapidly that it can't come out of the bottle fast enough so it may explode.

2. It may b so cold already it will have supercooled that at an extreme altitude  the stuff will freeze on opening because the champagne is expanding rapidly and you will end up with a champagne slushpuppy (been there! done that!).

3. If you open it slowly enough it may boil because the standard vapour pressure is lower and liquids boil at lower temperatures atl ower altitudes.



I would film it and see!

[Bouncy]

correction higher altitudes lower airpressure ~~(doh) blonde moment  :dance:

[Drift]

Number 3 would be so cool 

[diggerdog36]

Im on crappy dial up at work, but type "corona trick" in to youtube.  Its where they get a corona out of the freezer still as a liquid......

Easily explained but cool to watch, weve done it....and it works!!!

[MuddyMike]

I have drunk champagne in Peru at 12,000 feet, and it was fine. Mind you we did buy it in a shop in Cuzco also at 12,000 ft.

Mike