How does a spray(spray cans, disinfectant sprays etc.) work?
In: Engineering
There’s two things inside the can…the stuff you care about (paint, hairspray, disinfectant, whatever) and some pressurized gas. The gas is sitting above the liquid, like the “air” space inside a soda bottle.
The key that makes it work is that the nozzle has a straw that goes all the way to the bottom of the can. The gas is pushing down on the liquid but the only way out of the can is through the straw, and that’s in the liquid. So the gas pushes the liquid up through the straw and out the nozzle.
This is why your spray can still “sprays” but doesn’t do anything useful when it’s empty. The liquid has all gone and the gas can finally get to the straw, and now it comes straight out the nozzle.
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