Photo JournalHigh Speed Imaging: Popcorn Poppers
Elizabeth DuVall, Caitlin Frese, Keith Grose
Our goal was to take high-speed images and video of popcorn kernels popping as well as determining the velocity of a kernel as it popped and patterns that may exist in their pops. To investigate the pops, we used a hotplate to heat oil and a kernel, centralized in a washer, with a laser photogate to trigger the flashes. The photogate was interfaced to the computer, which allowed us to control the flash delays. As the kernel popped, it passed through the photogate, interrupting the laser, and resulted in three consecutive flashes. We concluded that smaller kernels have smaller pops and larger kernels have bigger pops. Our popping velocities differed from kernel to kernel, but most were between 1.50 m/s and 4 m/s.
