P2_4 Not So Spontaneous Combustion

Authors

  • Tomas Holesinsky University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7RH
  • Zoe Harrison University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7RH
  • Soheb Mandhai University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7RH
  • Ben G.S. Harris University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7RH

Abstract

In the X-Files TV series, a man is injected with a chemical that freezes him. When defrosting, his body
starts producing exothermic reaction that sets him on re. At normal metabolic rate, this reaction would
take at least 4 days 15 hours and 24 minutes. In the time scale of the show the energy required to heat
the body would be 9.9 x 105 W.

Author Biographies

Tomas Holesinsky, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7RH

Department of Physics and Astronomy

Zoe Harrison, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7RH

Department of Physics and Astronomy

Soheb Mandhai, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7RH

Department of Physics and Astronomy

Ben G.S. Harris, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7RH

Department of Physics and Astronomy

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Published

11/04/2016

How to Cite

Holesinsky, T., Harrison, Z., Mandhai, S., & Harris, B. G. (2016). P2_4 Not So Spontaneous Combustion. Physics Special Topics, 15(1). Retrieved from https://journals.le.ac.uk/index.php/pst/article/view/864

Issue

Vol. 15 No. 1 (2016): Physics Special Topics

Section

Articles