Check out this ultra-slow-motion video of Destin Sandlin of Smarter Every Day firing a homemade clear PVC potato cannon. It’s fun and educational.
It is very cool to see the explosion in the chamber. At one point, Destin tries to figure out if it’s better to ignite the cannon from the back end or the middle of the combustion chamber. Ultimately he thinks that igniting from the middle is better since it will result in a more even explosion. I agree, because I love things that go boom.
Basically this video will give you a primer on the basic mechanics of a combustion chamber. And besides, it’s always fun to watch stuff explode in ultra-slow-motion.
