Dr. Roy Lowry wanted to demonstrate a few basic principles of science, notably the behavior of liquid nitrogen under pressure. But how to get that across in a way that even the least scientifically curious student would think of as awesome.

Easy: Just add ping-pong balls!

Lowry and his assistants put together the "experiment" quite simply. He just pours a small measure of liquid nitrogen into a soda bottle, caps it off, and sticks in the bottom of a trash can. Then he and an assistant dump 1,500 ping-pong balls on top of it.

The thing about liquid nitrogen is that it becomes a gas very quickly... but the gas has nowhere to go. The resulting explosion pushes the trash can six feet in the air and launches the ping-pong balls all over the room where Lowry is showing off.

It looks neat but we've got to ask... who picked up all the ping pong balls?

More From WQCB Brewer Maine