Experiments+with+Ballons

For these two experiments we will be working with balloons.



Balloons are made of rubberized material.







Rubber comes from trees.

Rubberized material is called polymer. Poly means "many" and mer means "molecules".

The balloons material is made up of many molecules linked together.





These links are strong and try hard to stay linked.

What do you think will happen if we stick a needle into a balloon? Will it pop?



What about a skewer?



Do you think we can stick a skewer into a balloon without immediately popping it?

AFTER EXPERIMENT: When the skewer is pushed through the balloon where it is least stretched (unlike the first popping experience) the links give just enough, allowing the skewer to pass through the balloon. This also creates a hole in the balloon, allowing air to slowly leak out. This slow leak becomes obvious if the skewered balloon is observed about one-half hour later.

Experiment #2 Balloon Blowout

Another experiment we are going to try is blowing up a balloon inside an empty bottle.

Have you ever tried blowing up a balloon? Is it hard or easy.



For some, blowing up a balloon can be very difficult. This is because of the molecules in the rubber working really hard to stay together and not stretch out. When the rubber stretches, it thins out and weakens.



However, the human lung is stronger than the balloon and because of that, we are able to buildup enough pressure to blow up and stretch the balloon.



But what about if we try to blow up a balloon inside a plastic bottle? Why might this be more difficult? Will the air already inside the bottle allow us to blow up the balloon? Or will it work against us?

AFTER EXPERIMENT: There is already air inside the balloon when the deflated balloon is placed inside. When you initially blow into the balloon, it begins to inflate. This action traps the air inside the bottle and creates a seal (when the inflating balloon begins to press against the bottles neck). In order to inflate the balloon, compression of the air trapped between the balloon and bottle would have to take place. It is possible to compress the trapped air, but it would take a great deal of strength to do this. Human lungs are not strong enough to overpower the trapped air not strong enough to overpower the trapped air inside the bottle and compress it. The inside air pressure is, therefore, greater than the air pressure we are able to produce with our lungs, and the balloon cannot be inflated.

Experiment #3: Homemade Glue (making polymer)

Today we are going to make polymer.

To make our homemade version of polymer (or glue) we need a few things.

Vinegar



Milk



Paper towels

Hot plate (stove top)

Water



media type="youtube" key="90UDm3KgYSo" width="560" height="315"