Airplane cabins AND cargo holds are pressurized to (at minimum) a pressure equivalent to 8000 ft above sea level per FAA regulations. Soda cans will not explode due to cabin pressure – if they did they would likely explode on trucks on I – 80 in CA, UT, CO, and other mountainous areas.
All canned drinks are good to bring in checked baggage, and they will not explode even in the changing air pressure on the airplane; just ensure that your cans are packed and protected carefully, and they will not explode under normal pressure in your suitcase.
Soda cans don’t explode for the same reason that we don’t. To explode, the pressure inside the can would have to be much greater than outside. When a can is put in a freezer the liquid turns to ice and expands. This creates pressure. Sometimes the can explodes.
We specifically answer the question if your hair spray, shaving cream, dry shampoo, deodorant, insect repellant, or any other permitted aerosol spray cans are going to explode in your checked luggage. We also cover which types and quantities of aerosols you can take in your checked bags. Some aerosol cans are not permitted in hold luggage at all.
How does a soda can explode?
In order for a soda can to actually explode, the pressure change would have to be very quick and very intense.
Another cost-effective method of soda protection is to place each can in an individual Ziploc bag. Placing the cans in sealed Ziploc bags serves two purposes.
For instance, soda being transported without being wrapped in other protective material may experience a slight pressure change in the ambient environment, causing the soda to expand. This expansion can strain the can or other container and cause leaking or popping, although a full-on explosion of soda is highly unlikely.
Alternatively, you can use a special beer, soda, or wine container to transport your carbonated goods from place to place. These containers are the same size as typical cases of luggage and are usually packed with Styrofoam.
Warmer temperatures cause fluid to expand and the surface tension of a soda beverage to become weaker.
If you ever look at a cross-section of a regular commercial aircraft, you’ll notice that the round shape of the fuselage (just like a SODA Can or bottle) helps to disperse pressure and withstand pressure changes as the aircraft goes from higher to lower altitudes or vice versa.
General Info. There’s an urban legend about soda cans popping spectacularly on aircraft flights. While it’s common knowledge that the cabin is a safe place to sip your favorite soda, especially since the cabin crew frequently serves soft drinks to patrons, the cargo hold is another story. Hardly anyone except the aircraft crew takes …
Why don’t planes explode?
Same reason planes themselves don’t explode. At cruise altitude, the air pressure inside of an airliner is much higher than outside. How much higher depends on the airliner – some are pressurized at different “altitude” equivalents, but 5–8,000 feet is about what the air inside an airliner feels like.
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For the same reason it doesn’t explode at sea level – the same pressure is being applied to it. Once airborne and cruising, all commercial aircraft pressurise their cabins ensuring that there is enough air for passengers and crew to breathe; this pressure, as Mr. Forbes has mentioned, is not too different from sea level, hence there is no reason for explosions.
Pressure inside the cabin is typically around 0.8 bar (what you’d find around 6000–8000 feet).
Potato chip bags are typically filled with nitrogen gas in order to preserve its contents for longer. Nitrogen is a fairly inert gas and makes up 70% of our atmosphere already, making it ideal for this purpose.
When a can is put in a freezer the liquid turns to ice and expands. This creates pressure. Sometimes the can explodes.
Since a soda can is under positive pressure (if full and sealed) and the water is providing inward pressure … it can go to any depth without exploding.
For the same reason, if you bring the same bag down and take it too deep into the earth ( at an altitude lower than sea level) or if you inflate the bag at a very high altitude and bring it down to sea level, it will deflate.
