Random Questions
 

Because I'm curious...

1. What causes the "kick" effect when opening a bottle of cold Coke and drinking some? I swallow some and it immediately "kicks". What causes this, is it the carbination or do I swallow air with it, or the cold....?

2. Sometimes when eating cold ice cream, one can get a sudden, momentary headache that throbs right behind the forehead. As the ice cream goes to the belly and not up to the brain, what causes this headache?

I don't know about the first question, but the brain freeze due to ice cream or a cold drink is due to the cold temperature on the nerves on the back of your throat. When the temperature drops, the nerves sense this and trigger the pain in your brain.

-Triad

dunno about the first one...

second is close, the cold temps of the icecream also restrict bloodflow which helps kick in that pain feeling

first question:

I always assumed it was my body reacting to a "hit" of caffiene - a very addictive substance. My first diet coke of the day never fails to provide that rush.

I know this doesn't answer the questions, but I found that sticking your thumb to the roof of your mouth with make brain freezes go away alot quicker.

re: the brain-freeze ice cream headache effect

check out:
http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/talk/q..._headache.html

It's for kids! I figured it would be perfect for TF! ha ha.

Colas, as well as all carbonated sodas of which I am aware, use a variety of acids in their recipes. Most imprtantly is carbonic acid.

H20 + C02 <-> H2C03

When pressurized, this system shifts to the more compact side, namely the carbonic acid. This allows the manufacturers to pour in the bubbles in liquid form. Consequently, this is why your pop tastes watery when all the bubbles are gone.

It's a proven fact that Pepsi can eat through aluminum foil, certain tarnishes, and a variety of other things in the proper situations. That "kick" you feel is quite likely the result of the sudden change of pH in your throat from netural to acidic. After a couple sips, your body says, "ok, this stuff isn't killing me, I can turn off the red alert" and you don't get the "kick"

Other important acids in sodas:

Ascorbic Acid - a.k.a Vitamin C
Citric Acid - Related to above, but not the same. Gives flavor to citrus fruits.
Phosphoric Acid - Allegedly linked to calcium loss. Used for flavoring also.

Cool I never knew that Giltwist, thanks for that info :)

Anyone ever put one of their lost baby teeth in a glass of pop overnight when they were younger? It's gone the next morning, I think from the acidity. When your parents told you pop will rot your teeth, they wern't kidding ;)

Try it at home experiment:

Next time you eat chicken, or ribs, or anything with bones, save one. Clean it off well, then put it in a glass of vinegar for a day or two. In no time at all, the bone has become like rubber. This also works with eggs. Nothing feels quite so much like a disembodied eye as a raw egg that has had this done to it.

Fact: Acetic acid (HC2H302), which is the active ingredient in vinegar, dissolves or "eats" calcium. The stuff that makes bones and eggs and a few other things hard and strong.

For the Brain freeze thing, just put the bottom of your tounge on the roof of your mouth, it will go away in 2-3 seconds

Step 1. Find someone eating Ice cream

Step 2. Explain hot to remove "Ice Cream Effect"

Step 3. Profit!

False.
http://snopes.com/cokelore/tooth.asp

The other end of the nerve in the roof of your mouth is located in your forehead. The temperature differenc between the nerve ends is wha tcauses ice cream headache.

Cybermike has the right idea... if you put your thumb our your tounge to the rough of your mouth when you have an ice cream headache it will go away because it's causing that area to warm back up to your normal body temp.

We kept an egg in vinegar for almost 2 years. :) Shell was dissolved and the inside turned to rubber. Was awesome. Did it Easter 2002 and it just broke.. :(

I chew ice cream is that weird? Oh but I don't get brain freeze.

I will vote for this argument--that would explain the pucker you get when eating a sour candy, drinking orange juice, etc. after a while the reaction goes away.

The introduction of more gas into your stomach may make it expand, thus causing a reaction throughout your body.

Maybe.

This happens with all stimuli, its called desensitization. [animal cruelty] Go get yourself an earthworm and a toothpick. Gently prod the worm. Assuming all is well with the worm, it will squirm furiously at being prodded. Wait a couple minutes and prod again, it will probably squirm about as much. Repeat a few times, though, and you'd be surprised how short a while it takes for the worm to all but ignore it.[/animal cruelty]