What caused tempered glass to shatter?

Subject: What caused tempered glass to shatter?

Date: Tue Oct 24 18:41:52 2006
Posted by Bill
Grade level: nonaligned School: No school entered.
City: Traverse City State/Province: MI Country: United States
Area of science: Physics
ID: 1161740512.Ph

Message:


If tempered glass is broken with a pointed metal object, it shatters and falls straight down. If it is 
broken from the force of the palm of a hand, it shatters inward, away from the hand. What causes the 
glass to react differently in these two situations?

Re: What caused tempered glass to shatter?

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