How To: Make a metal coin shake and shiver with dry ice

If you have some dry ice, try this cool science experiment out. It's so easy, you have to try it, at least once! You just need a chunk of dry ice and some metal coins, like a half dollar (which is comprised of copper and nickel).

When the fifty-cent piece is pressed into a the block of dry ice, it begins to "shake and shiver"! As the metal coin presses against the sides of the groove, its warmth is transferred to the ice, and the evaporating carbon dioxide (CO2) creates a small air current. The seeping gas pushes the coin back and forth, creating a vibrating coin convulsion that clatters and screams.

This is also known to work on quarters, not just half dollar coins. Actually, it should work on all coins made of metal alloys.

Caution: Dry ice is frozen carbon dioxide. It's extremely cold. Use thick gloves. CO2 is a colorless, odorless gas that is heavier than air.