The cup is placed on a flat surface, that is parallel to the floor, with the opened side up. Liquid is then poured into the cup (the liquid must be drinkable). Once the cup is sufficiently full, stop pouring or spillage will occur. The cup is then lifted to the lips and tilted carefully towards the mouth, where upon the liquid pours into the mouth.
The raw material of a polystyrene cup is polystyrene plastic, which is derived from styrene, a petroleum-based hydrocarbon. The polystyrene undergoes a process called extrusion or injection molding to form the shape of the cup.
A polystyrene cup is an insulator. It is made of a non-conductive material that does not easily transfer heat or electricity.
Before the polystyrene cup, people used alternatives such as paper cups, glass cups, or ceramic cups for beverages. These options were more environmentally friendly compared to polystyrene, which is not biodegradable.
Polystyrene (especially the expanded "Styrofoam (R)" type) is a good insulator. Metals are good conductors of heat.The insulating cup will maintain a greater heat differential than the conductor so if there is a liquid in the cup that is at a greater temperature than the surroundings, the metal cup will loose more heat than the polystyrene cup.
Expanded polystyrene foam.
Polystyrene is not biodegradable
because it does
Polystyrene. the opaque white cups that you can make fingernails impressions in, are foamed polystyrene. Clear sups that you get on an airplane are general-purpose polystyrene.
Crush a polystyrene cup under the armpit.
Polystyrene cups tend to hold heat better than plastic cups due to their insulation properties. The material's structure helps to minimize heat transfer, keeping drinks hotter for longer periods.
A polystyrene cup feels warm because it is a poor conductor of heat. This means that heat is not transferred easily from the outside of the cup to the inside and the cup is unable to dissipate the heat quickly. Instead the heat generated by the liquid inside the cup is trapped making the cup feel warm to the touch.The material of a polystyrene cup is designed to insulate meaning it does not easily transfer heat. This means that heat generated by the liquid inside the cup is retained causing the cup to feel warm to the touch. Other materials such as metal or ceramic are much better conductors of heat and are better able to dissipate heat quickly.The following characteristics of polystyrene make it a poor conductor of heat:Low thermal conductivityHigh resistance to heat transferLow thermal diffusivityWhen a polystyrene cup is filled with a hot liquid the heat of the liquid is not easily transferred out of the cup making it feel warm to the touch. This is why polystyrene cups are often used for hot beverages.
When a polystyrene cup is thrown away, it can take hundreds of years to break down in a landfill due to its non-biodegradable nature. This can lead to environmental pollution and harm to wildlife if not disposed of properly. Recycling or using alternative biodegradable materials can help reduce the negative impact of polystyrene cups on the environment.