Marshmallow Smashies - Revision history

imported>Stwikiadmin: /* Demonstration */

2016-05-12T20:22:36Z

Demonstration

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:22, 12 May 2016
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	== Demonstration ==		== Demonstration ==

	Preparation: connect the vacuum flask to the hose for the pump. Draw faces or animals on the marshmallows that you will use, or set out the ones you plan to use with some markers so you can have volunteers draw on them.		;Preparation: connect the vacuum flask to the hose for the pump. Draw faces or animals on the marshmallows that you will use, or set out the ones you plan to use with some markers so you can have volunteers draw on them.
	# Show the marshmallows to the audience. If they do not have faces yet, call up a few volunteers to draw on the marshmallows. Ask the audience or the volunteers to give the marshmallows names.		;Presentation:
			# Show the marshmallows to the audience. If they do not have faces yet, and if you have a younger audience, call up a few volunteers to draw on the marshmallows. Ask the audience or the volunteers to give the marshmallows names.
	# Place the marshmallows inside the vacuum flask, and put the racquetball on top. Ask the audience for ideas on what will happen to the marshmallows if you removed the air inside the flask.		# Place the marshmallows inside the vacuum flask, and put the racquetball on top. Ask the audience for ideas on what will happen to the marshmallows if you removed the air inside the flask.
	# Ask for a countdown, and at the end of the countdown turn on the pump. Hold up the flask so the audience can see the marshmallows expanding!		# Ask for a countdown, and at the end of the countdown turn on the pump. Hold up the flask so the audience can see the marshmallows expanding!

imported>Stwikiadmin: /* Why This Works */

2016-05-12T20:20:33Z

Why This Works

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:20, 12 May 2016
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	== Why This Works ==		== Why This Works ==

	~~===Short Explanation===~~
	This introduces ''Air Pressure'', which is the force of the air applied on everything around it. Air pressure is pretty strong, but we don't normally notice it because our bodies push back against it. Marshmallows also push back, because they have a lot of little air pockets in them. When we put the marshmallows in the vacuum flask and sucked the air out, there was a lot less air pushing on them. We put the marshmallows in a ''Vacuuum'', or an area with a lot of empty space, including no air! The air inside the marshmallows then was able to take up a lot more space, which caused them to expand. However, the marshmallow could only expand so far until the bubbles started to pop! The marshmallows then lost a lot of the air inside them, which caused them to shrink in the vacuum, and less air inside them meant that they could not push back as much. This is why, when we let the air back in, the marshmallows were smashed!		This introduces ''Air Pressure'', which is the force of the air applied on everything around it. Air pressure is pretty strong, but we don't normally notice it because our bodies push back against it. Marshmallows also push back, because they have a lot of little air pockets in them. When we put the marshmallows in the vacuum flask and sucked the air out, there was a lot less air pushing on them. We put the marshmallows in a ''Vacuuum'', or an area with a lot of empty space, including no air! The air inside the marshmallows then was able to take up a lot more space, which caused them to expand. However, the marshmallow could only expand so far until the bubbles started to pop! The marshmallows then lost a lot of the air inside them, which caused them to shrink in the vacuum, and less air inside them meant that they could not push back as much. This is why, when we let the air back in, the marshmallows were smashed!

imported>Stwikiadmin at 20:19, 12 May 2016

2016-05-12T20:19:55Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:19, 12 May 2016
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	\|}		\|}

			On of our favorite demonstrations! Students of all ages will love watching the marshmallows in the vacuum flask!
	== Materials ==		== Materials ==

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	===Short Explanation===		===Short Explanation===
	This introduces ''Air Pressure'', the force of air applied on everything around it. Air pressure is pretty strong, but we don't normally notice it because our bodies push back against it. Marshmallows also push back, because they have a lot of little air pockets in them. When we put the marshmallows in the vacuum flask and sucked the air out, there was a lot less air pushing on them. We put the marshmallows in a ''Vacuuum'', or an area with a lot of empty space, including no air! The air inside the marshmallows then was able to take up a lot more space, ~~making~~ them expand, until ~~finally~~ the bubbles started to pop! The marshmallows then lost a lot of the air inside them, which caused them to shrink in the vacuum, and less air inside them meant that they could not push back as much. This is why, when we let the air back in, the marshmallows were smashed!		This introduces ''Air Pressure'', which is the force of the air applied on everything around it. Air pressure is pretty strong, but we don't normally notice it because our bodies push back against it. Marshmallows also push back, because they have a lot of little air pockets in them. When we put the marshmallows in the vacuum flask and sucked the air out, there was a lot less air pushing on them. We put the marshmallows in a ''Vacuuum'', or an area with a lot of empty space, including no air! The air inside the marshmallows then was able to take up a lot more space, which caused them to expand. However, the marshmallow could only expand so far until the bubbles started to pop! The marshmallows then lost a lot of the air inside them, which caused them to shrink in the vacuum, and less air inside them meant that they could not push back as much. This is why, when we let the air back in, the marshmallows were smashed!

	~~===Full Explanation===~~
	~~'''''COMING SOON'''''~~

	== Tips and Tricks ==		== Tips and Tricks ==

	* This demonstration is a part of the [[Pressure Show]] and the [[Astronomy Show]].		* This demonstration is a part of the [[Pressure Show]] and the [[Astronomy Show]].
	*

imported>Stwikiadmin at 16:24, 2 March 2016

2016-03-02T16:24:45Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:24, 2 March 2016
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	== ~~Age ==~~		{\| class="wikitable" style="color:black; background-color:#ddd; margin-left: auto; float:right"
			\| [[Physics]]:
	Elementary School, Middle School, High School		\| Pressure, Vacuums
			\|-
	== Format ==		\| Grade Range:
			\| [[Elementary School]], [[Middle School]], [[High School]]
	~~Stage Show,~~ Hands-on		\|-
			\| Format:
			\| [[Hands-on]], [[Stage]]
			\|}

	== Materials ==		== Materials ==

	Büchner ~~flask~~ (~~vacuum flask~~)		* Büchner Flask (Vacuum Flask)
	Marshmallows		* Marshmallows
	Vacuum ~~pump~~		* Vacuum Pump
	~~Rubber racquet ball~~		* Racquetball
	Partially ~~inflated balloon~~		* Partially Inflated Balloon

	== Safety Precautions ==		== Safety Precautions ==

	~~Science Theatre demonstrators must keep~~ the ~~safety~~ of ~~themselves and their audience in mind at all times. All Science Theatre demonstrators must have read through~~ the Safety Training page. The ST Safety Box with first aid kit, fire extinguisher, etc. should always be available to demonstrators. Always wear safety gloves, glasses, and a labcoat if handling chemicals; always perform potentially dangerous demonstrations at a safe distance from the audience; and always keep a very close eye on any volunteers you call from the audience.		Please see the General Safety section of the [[Demonstration Safety]] Page before doing this demonstration.

	~~Nothing really dangerous about this demo, just don’t let kids eat the marshmallows~~

	~~== Preparation ==~~

	~~Make sure you have a balloon that is partially inflated and that the pump is working. It tends to leak once it’s turned off so keep~~ this ~~in mind~~.

	== Demonstration ==		== Demonstration ==

	~~This demo demonstrates how pressure pushes in and out on things. The first part of the demo involves blowing up a balloon by removing the air around it. Place the partially inflated balloon in~~ the ~~flask and (with the rubber ball over the top)~~ vacuum ~~the air out of the~~ flask ~~and watch as the balloon inflates. Be careful not~~ to ~~let~~ the ~~balloon cover~~ the hole that the air is being sucked through as the balloon can burst there. Let the air back in to bring the balloon back to its normal state. The second part of the demo involves marshmallows instead of a balloon. ~~Place a few marshmallows in the flask and repeat. You can let the kids draw~~ faces ~~and what have you~~ on the marshmallows ~~if the demo is hands-on as opposed to being part of a stage show. The marshmallows~~ will ~~inflate just as the balloon did. Once they stop inflating~~, ~~let~~ the ~~air back in and watch as they shrink up into little shriveled blobs. Try~~ to ~~vacuum the air out again after they’ve shrunk to show that they stay the same size~~.		Preparation: connect the vacuum flask to the hose for the pump. Draw faces or animals on the marshmallows that you will use, or set out the ones you plan to use with some markers so you can have volunteers draw on them.
			# Show the marshmallows to the audience. If they do not have faces yet, call up a few volunteers to draw on the marshmallows. Ask the audience or the volunteers to give the marshmallows names.
	~~== What~~ to ~~Say ==~~		# Place the marshmallows inside the vacuum flask, and put the racquetball on top. Ask the audience for ideas on what will happen to the marshmallows if you removed the air inside the flask.
			# Ask for a countdown, and at the end of the countdown turn on the pump. Hold up the flask so the audience can see the marshmallows expanding!
	~~Most kids have blown a balloon up or at least seen it done. Ask them if they know why~~ the ~~balloon gets bigger~~. If ~~no one can answer~~, ~~explain that when you put air into the balloon you’re increasing the pressure inside and it expands.~~		# The marshmallows will expand for a few seconds, and then stop and start to shrink slowly. When they start to shrink, turn off the pump and pull the racquetball off the top, letting out a loud popping noise and smashing the marshmallows!
			# Show the smashed marshmallows compared to regular sized ones. Ask the audience for ideas on what happened, then explain the demo, using the balloon to show how air will expand in a vacuum.
	~~Now might be~~ a ~~good time~~ to ~~introduce air pressure into the equation. The air pressure outside of the balloon is pushing in~~ on the ~~balloon while the pressure of the air inside is pushing out~~. ~~The pressures will try to balance each other out. This is why the balloon expands when the pressure inside increases.~~

	Ask ~~if there would be any other way to make~~ the ~~balloon expand. If no one comes up with~~ the ~~idea~~ to ~~remove~~ the ~~pressure outside, perhaps hint at it by asking if you could simply take away the air around the balloon~~.

	Place the ~~balloon in~~ the flask and ~~suck~~ the ~~air out of the flask. Before actually doing this, it might be a good idea to explain what the pump will be doing (sucking the air out of the flask) so they know what’s actually going~~ on. ~~Be sure to have~~ the audience ~~observe what happens to the balloon.~~

	~~Once the balloon has increased its size significantly, shut off the pump. See if the audience can figure out~~ what will happen to the ~~balloon~~ if the air ~~were to be let back into~~ the flask. Let the air back in and see if they can explain what happened. If they’re unable, try to help them along. When the air was let back in, it just pushed back on the balloon until the pressures were balanced again.

	~~Now~~ for the ~~marshmallows. Marshmallows are made~~ of ~~mainly sugar and air. Marshmallows are really just dozens of tiny little balloons just like~~ the ~~one that was just put in~~ the ~~flask~~. ~~It might be a good idea to have a marshmallow that’s ripped in half to show~~ the ~~bubbles inside. If~~ the ~~air is removed again, shouldn’t the same thing happen to them? Put~~ the marshmallows ~~in the flask and repeat the process mentioned above. Behold~~! The marshmallows expand ~~just like the balloon!~~

	~~Make sure the audience pays close attention to what happens. At~~ a ~~certain point~~, ~~the marshmallows~~ stop ~~expanding~~ and ~~seem~~ to shrink ~~slightly~~. ~~What happened was~~ the ~~balloons inside~~ the ~~marshmallow burst after being blown much too large. See if they can figure~~ out ~~what happened on their own, but remember,~~ the marshmallows ~~will now begin shrinking over time so don’t hesitate too long for the finale~~! ~~Hinting at what happened by asking what happens to a balloon if you blow it up too big usually works well.~~

	~~And now the finale! See if the audience thinks~~ the marshmallows ~~will go back~~ to ~~their original size , stay~~ the ~~same or something else! Remove the rubber ball to let the air back in and wait~~ for ~~surprised gasps.~~

	~~It’s likely no one will know exactly~~ what happened to the ~~marshmallows. What happens is the little balloons get too big and burst~~, ~~allowing~~ the ~~air~~ to ~~escape. Once the~~ air ~~is let back~~ in, the stretchy marshmallow wants to shrink up and the air pressure wants to push the remaining bubbles back to their normal size. The bubbles that burst now have no air to stop them from shrinking and the marshmallow shrivels up into a ~~little blob~~.

	~~Try putting them back in and see if anyone can guess what will happen. As you may have guessed, they stay the same size (they may grow very slightly, but nothing like they did originally).~~		== Why This Works ==

	~~Ask for any questions~~ and ~~do your best to answer~~ them. ~~If you aren’t sure about~~ a ~~question~~, ~~don’t be afraid~~ to ~~say you don’t know or~~ to ~~ask someone else~~!		===Short Explanation===
			This introduces ''Air Pressure'', the force of air applied on everything around it. Air pressure is pretty strong, but we don't normally notice it because our bodies push back against it. Marshmallows also push back, because they have a lot of little air pockets in them. When we put the marshmallows in the vacuum flask and sucked the air out, there was a lot less air pushing on them. We put the marshmallows in a ''Vacuuum'', or an area with a lot of empty space, including no air! The air inside the marshmallows then was able to take up a lot more space, making them expand, until finally the bubbles started to pop! The marshmallows then lost a lot of the air inside them, which caused them to shrink in the vacuum, and less air inside them meant that they could not push back as much. This is why, when we let the air back in, the marshmallows were smashed!

	== ~~Why It Is~~ ==		===Full Explanation===
			'''''COMING SOON'''''

	== ~~Real Life Examples~~ ==		== Tips and Tricks ==

	~~Blowing up balloons~~		* This demonstration is a part of the [[Pressure Show]] and the [[Astronomy Show]].
			*

imported>Stwikiadmin: Created page with "== Age == Elementary School, Middle School, High School == Format == Stage Show, Hands-on == Materials == Büchner flask (vacuum flask) Marshmallows Vacuum pump ..."

2013-09-12T00:49:53Z

Created page with "== Age == Elementary School, Middle School, High School == Format == Stage Show, Hands-on == Materials == Büchner flask (vacuum flask) Marshmallows Vacuum pump ..."

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:49, 12 September 2013
(No difference)

imported>Stwikiadmin: Created page with "== Age == Elementary School, Middle School, High School == Format == Stage Show, Hands-on == Materials == Büchner flask (vacuum flask) Marshmallows Vacuum pump ..."

2013-09-12T00:49:53Z

Created page with "== Age == Elementary School, Middle School, High School == Format == Stage Show, Hands-on == Materials == Büchner flask (vacuum flask) Marshmallows Vacuum pump ..."

New page

== Age ==

Elementary School, Middle School, High School

== Format ==

Stage Show, Hands-on

== Materials ==

Büchner flask (vacuum flask)
Marshmallows
Vacuum pump
Rubber racquet ball
Partially inflated balloon

== Safety Precautions ==

Science Theatre demonstrators must keep the safety of themselves and their audience in mind at all times. All Science Theatre demonstrators must have read through the Safety Training page. The ST Safety Box with first aid kit, fire extinguisher, etc. should always be available to demonstrators. Always wear safety gloves, glasses, and a labcoat if handling chemicals; always perform potentially dangerous demonstrations at a safe distance from the audience; and always keep a very close eye on any volunteers you call from the audience.

Nothing really dangerous about this demo, just don’t let kids eat the marshmallows

== Preparation ==

Make sure you have a balloon that is partially inflated and that the pump is working. It tends to leak once it’s turned off so keep this in mind.

== Demonstration ==

This demo demonstrates how pressure pushes in and out on things. The first part of the demo involves blowing up a balloon by removing the air around it. Place the partially inflated balloon in the flask and (with the rubber ball over the top) vacuum the air out of the flask and watch as the balloon inflates. Be careful not to let the balloon cover the hole that the air is being sucked through as the balloon can burst there. Let the air back in to bring the balloon back to its normal state. The second part of the demo involves marshmallows instead of a balloon. Place a few marshmallows in the flask and repeat. You can let the kids draw faces and what have you on the marshmallows if the demo is hands-on as opposed to being part of a stage show. The marshmallows will inflate just as the balloon did. Once they stop inflating, let the air back in and watch as they shrink up into little shriveled blobs. Try to vacuum the air out again after they’ve shrunk to show that they stay the same size.

== What to Say ==

Most kids have blown a balloon up or at least seen it done. Ask them if they know why the balloon gets bigger. If no one can answer, explain that when you put air into the balloon you’re increasing the pressure inside and it expands.

Now might be a good time to introduce air pressure into the equation. The air pressure outside of the balloon is pushing in on the balloon while the pressure of the air inside is pushing out. The pressures will try to balance each other out. This is why the balloon expands when the pressure inside increases.

Ask if there would be any other way to make the balloon expand. If no one comes up with the idea to remove the pressure outside, perhaps hint at it by asking if you could simply take away the air around the balloon.

Place the balloon in the flask and suck the air out of the flask. Before actually doing this, it might be a good idea to explain what the pump will be doing (sucking the air out of the flask) so they know what’s actually going on. Be sure to have the audience observe what happens to the balloon.

Once the balloon has increased its size significantly, shut off the pump. See if the audience can figure out what will happen to the balloon if the air were to be let back into the flask. Let the air back in and see if they can explain what happened. If they’re unable, try to help them along. When the air was let back in, it just pushed back on the balloon until the pressures were balanced again.

Now for the marshmallows. Marshmallows are made of mainly sugar and air. Marshmallows are really just dozens of tiny little balloons just like the one that was just put in the flask. It might be a good idea to have a marshmallow that’s ripped in half to show the bubbles inside. If the air is removed again, shouldn’t the same thing happen to them? Put the marshmallows in the flask and repeat the process mentioned above. Behold! The marshmallows expand just like the balloon!

Make sure the audience pays close attention to what happens. At a certain point, the marshmallows stop expanding and seem to shrink slightly. What happened was the balloons inside the marshmallow burst after being blown much too large. See if they can figure out what happened on their own, but remember, the marshmallows will now begin shrinking over time so don’t hesitate too long for the finale! Hinting at what happened by asking what happens to a balloon if you blow it up too big usually works well.

And now the finale! See if the audience thinks the marshmallows will go back to their original size , stay the same or something else! Remove the rubber ball to let the air back in and wait for surprised gasps.

It’s likely no one will know exactly what happened to the marshmallows. What happens is the little balloons get too big and burst, allowing the air to escape. Once the air is let back in, the stretchy marshmallow wants to shrink up and the air pressure wants to push the remaining bubbles back to their normal size. The bubbles that burst now have no air to stop them from shrinking and the marshmallow shrivels up into a little blob.

Try putting them back in and see if anyone can guess what will happen. As you may have guessed, they stay the same size (they may grow very slightly, but nothing like they did originally).

Ask for any questions and do your best to answer them. If you aren’t sure about a question, don’t be afraid to say you don’t know or to ask someone else!

== Why It Is ==

== Real Life Examples ==

Blowing up balloons