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this post was submitted on 20 Mar 2025
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Illustrations of history
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This magazine is for sharing artwork of historical events, places, personages, etc. Scale models and the like also welcome!
Generally speaking, actual photos of a historical item should go to [email protected]
Photos of ruins should go to [email protected]
Photos of the past should go to [email protected]
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What does sand do at these temperatures? Is it essentially molten glass?
Ever get sand stuck in your clothes?
Imagine that at or near the temperature of boiling water.
Sand retains heat pretty well, flows quickly, and is a bitch to get out. Not only that, but it's great at slipping in where its recipients wouldn't want it - down the collar, under a mail shirt, through the visor of a helmet, you name it. You'll be covered in serious burns, third-degree even, potentially, if you get caught under it, and sand is dirt-cheap.
Why stop at boiling water temperature? Sand can get much hotter. Was the improvement in damage not worth the time required to heat it more?
Probably also the fact it flows a lot slower as molten glass.
There's plenty of room from boiling water temperature to the ~2000°C (3632°F) needed to melt sand. At 600°C it'd be still solid but also could set the things it touches on fire.