Ok, it's been like 3 months since I last posted a Science in Scouting thingie. Ok ok, here's something you can do while camping.
How to chill a drink while in camp?
Obviously, you can't bring fridge there, now can you? So, how to chill your drinks? Ok, this method may not chill your drink until like 4 degrees Celsius, but at least, it'll cool down your drink a bit.
What you do is, take your drink, and for it to work properly, it's best to use a metallic container (mass tin) to hold the drink, because you know right, metal conducts heat better than non-metals. Then, sprinkle the outside of the container with water.
Next, blow it until the water droplets outside the container evaporates. If you don't like using your lungs, just let nature do the job (hopefully, the campsite is windy). A few minutes later, the drink will cool down, but won't be as cold as the stuff chilled in a fridge. Still, it won't be warm right?
Then after that, cheers!
But, exactly how does it work?
That method is based on our body's natural cooling mechanism, perspiration. You see, when the water evaporates, it carries away with it the heat from the body, or in this case, the container. When the container is cooler than the liquid inside, it'll conduct heat from the liquid so that it'll be in equilibrium with the liquid. Nature is all about balance. So, from there, the liquid will cool down.
You can actually test this out right now! Lick your finger, then blow it. Doesn't your finger feel cooler? Yea, that's basically what we're trying to do, but instead of your finger, it's a metallic container.
Next tip:
OMG, no river! And no more water! What to do??
Don't panic, the ground may hold the key to solve your water crisis. If you don't mind digging the ground until you find a water spring, go ahead. But let's try another way, but this will be painstakingly long, so it won't be practical, and I don't really recommend it if you're in a desperate moment, unless you're really patient. This fact is just for your knowledge.
You see, there should be some water trapped in the earth. But how to extract water from mud?
Before I continue, I must let you know, I saw this from a TV show. I haven't really tested it, so I can't confirm that it'll work. Here goes:
You must have a sheet of plastic and a container. First, dig a hold in the ground.
Ok, the picture should be quite clear! Anyway, after that, put the container right in the middle. Then, lay a plastic sheet over the hole. Use stones to hold it in place so that it won't get blown away. Next, place a small stone on the plastic so that it's above the container. This is just to make the plastic curve downwards towards the cup so that whatever water that's caught on the plastic sheet will flow towards the cup.
Then, let the sun do its job. The sunlight will evaporate the humidity from the earth. Then the water vapour will condense on the plastic sheet. The condensed water droplets will flow down the curved sheet and drop into the container. The water caught in the cup should be pure because this is like distillation, unless, of course, your plastic sheet or your container isn't clean.
It's not recommended, though, to drink too much of really pure water because they lack essential minerals, and sometimes, very pure water is considered as "poison".
Seriously, this is not very practical. But if you really need water, and there are no other sources, this may help you. And, it'll be efficient if there's more surface to condense the water, ie, dig a wider hole (not deeper yea) and get a bigger plastic sheet and lay it over the hole.
So, have fun!
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