My bowl(ceramic) broke while I put hot water in it.

[lsdq]

I put my bowl in my room (temperature 23 celsius) then I put my hot soup in it...bang TT

please tell me why

Thank you!

[HowardE]

Are you planning on making a science fair experiment out of this? That would be rather exciting but you have to be very careful. Please wear eye protection if you're intentionally trying to break dishes.

The effect is thermal expansion. When you heat things they get longer or wider generally. The ceramic bowl wants to expand but the only parts that are hot is the side with the hot water in it. The other side (outside) is still relatively cold. The inside gets bigger, the outside doesn't and the bowl cracks just a bit. After a while and enough tiny cracks, the bowl breaks.

http://physicsmax.com/thermal-stress-4183

[guineabug]

Was it cool! It sounds awesome! BOOM!