Last Day : Pittsburgh Glass Center

The final leg our journey took us to the Pittsburgh Glass Center. Here, we were able to work with some skilled artists in creating a Christmas ornament. My partner was Mr. Chris Colegrove from Milton Middle School. Again, we saw the blow-tube being covered by thumb and the expansion of the fluid causing the development of a bubble. This site is something I simply cannot tire of.

The Pittsburgh Glass Center offers a wide range of opportunities for people to become involved in the art of glass making. Whether you want to take a beginners class to learn the ropes, or if you are a seasoned artist looking to make a name for yourself, the center has countless opportunities for you to explore.

When you think of the energy needed to for the glass to form, 2500 degrees Fahrenheit or 1371 degrees Celsius, it really difficult to fathom. Consider this: the basic specific heat calculation tells us the amount of heat per unit mass needed to raise the temperature by one degree Celsius - Q = cm(delta T). Thus if we consider 2 kilograms of standard glass with a specific heat of .84 J/gmC, how much heat would have to be added to raise the glass substance from 500 degrees Celsius to the needed temperature of 1371 degrees Celsius?