2006-07-22 01:42:34 · 11 answers · asked by some_hand2001 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Other - Science
watched a myth buster show on this where they put this myth to the test. they were not able to start a fire with gas and a cell phone. most fires that happen at gas pumps happen because of gas vapors around the nosle interact with an electical shock from the person which ingite the vapors. hope this helps.
2006-07-22 01:46:18 · answer #1 · answered by rap1361 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The TV show MythBusters showed this commonly held belief to be an urban legend and highly unlikely. Supposedly cell phones create static electricity which can ignite vapors around a gas pump. There is also an urban legend that you shouldn't get back into your vehicle while pumping gas because your pants could create a static electricity charge with the fabric seat and cause an explosion.
2006-07-22 01:48:39 · answer #2 · answered by therego2 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most anything that conducts electricity has contacts that open and close. Often when said contacts are very close but not touching (just before closing and just after opening), a tiny spark will occur. Look at any well-worn switch or contact, and you will see tiny pits in the metal from these sparks occuring.
It is those brief arcs that will ignite gasoline fumes.
2006-07-22 01:51:56 · answer #3 · answered by nowyermessingwithasonofabitch 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Gasoline needs an ignition source to com bust, so unless there is something wrong with your phone, it can't ignite anything except some form of communication.
2006-07-22 01:57:10 · answer #4 · answered by John in AZ 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it doesnt..thats just a myth, the fumes in gasoline need an open spark to ignite..
2006-07-22 01:46:24 · answer #5 · answered by Paulien 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good old static electrity.....Like when you forgot a dryer sheet in the laundry. I didn't believe it was possible until I had a friend use her cell as she was pumping gas right as a call came in....She was lucky not to lose her life.
2006-07-22 01:58:14 · answer #6 · answered by texas_kali 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good question, I often pondered this very same question. What about spontaneous combustion on days where the temp reaches 100+? What about the tailpipe? I'm sure its well over 100 degrees.
2006-07-22 01:54:52 · answer #7 · answered by ndvsne1 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
according to the Myths show, it does not. they showed that it was probably static electricity from womens clothes that ignited the gas in the incidents that originally lead to that belief.
2006-07-22 01:47:58 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've heard of this freak accident on news channels...It has something to do with the spark and the fuel....
2006-07-22 01:47:36 · answer #9 · answered by say it ain't so 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It doesn't. Disproven by Mythbusters quite a while ago.
2006-07-22 01:48:55 · answer #10 · answered by sparkletina 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋