Fireproof Balloon: Difference between revisions
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imported>Stwikiadmin Created page with "== Age == Elementary School == Format == Stage Show == Materials == Two round balloons Several matches Water == Safety Precautions == Science Theatre demonstr..." |
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== | {| class="wikitable" style="color:black; background-color:#ddd; margin-left: auto; float:right" | ||
| [[Chemistry]], [[Physics]]: | |||
| Heat Capacity | |||
|- | |||
| Grade Range: | |||
| [[Elementary School]] | |||
|- | |||
| Format: | |||
| [[Hands-on]], [[Stage]] | |||
|} | |||
This demonstration | |||
== Materials == | == Materials == | ||
* Matches | |||
* Water | |||
* Balloons | |||
== Safety Precautions == | == Safety Precautions == | ||
Please read the Fire Safety section of the [[Demonstration Safety]] page before performing this demonstration. | |||
== Demonstration == | == Demonstration == | ||
# Blow up a balloon and tie it off. Add 1/4 cup of water into a second balloon before blowing it up to the same size, and tie it off. | |||
# Show the first balloon to the audience and ask them what will happen if you held a lit match under it. After one or two responses, light a match and hold it under the balloon. It will pop! | |||
# Now mention that the second balloon has some water in it. Do they think the water will make a difference? Light a match and hold it under the balloon where the water is at. The match will burn out, and the balloon will be OK! | |||
== Why | == Why This Works == | ||
When we hold the first balloon over the match, it pops because of the heat. The rubber of the balloon wasn't able to handle the heat, and the air inside the balloon was expanding as it got warmer. These two things resulted in the balloon popping, since neither the rubber or the air could handle a lot of heat. The second balloon had a little water inside of it, which protected it from popping. Water has a high ''Heat Capacity'', meaning that water is able to absorb a lot of heat without having a high increase in temperature. When the balloon is being heated, the water absorbs the heat from the rubber instead of letting the air heat up and expand. This protects the balloon from popping, even as soot gathers on the bottom of it! For a gallon of water, you would need nearly 4,000 calories (or 4 Calories) of heat to raise the temperature by only one degree Celsius. This is why "A watched pot never boils" is a common proverb; a pot of water needs a lot of energy to boil, so you will be watching it for a long time! | |||
== | == Additional Information == | ||
This | * This demonstration pairs well with the [[Nonburning Money]]. | ||
Latest revision as of 19:00, 24 June 2016
| Chemistry, Physics: | Heat Capacity |
| Grade Range: | Elementary School |
| Format: | Hands-on, Stage |
This demonstration
Materials
- Matches
- Water
- Balloons
Safety Precautions
Please read the Fire Safety section of the Demonstration Safety page before performing this demonstration.
Demonstration
- Blow up a balloon and tie it off. Add 1/4 cup of water into a second balloon before blowing it up to the same size, and tie it off.
- Show the first balloon to the audience and ask them what will happen if you held a lit match under it. After one or two responses, light a match and hold it under the balloon. It will pop!
- Now mention that the second balloon has some water in it. Do they think the water will make a difference? Light a match and hold it under the balloon where the water is at. The match will burn out, and the balloon will be OK!
Why This Works
When we hold the first balloon over the match, it pops because of the heat. The rubber of the balloon wasn't able to handle the heat, and the air inside the balloon was expanding as it got warmer. These two things resulted in the balloon popping, since neither the rubber or the air could handle a lot of heat. The second balloon had a little water inside of it, which protected it from popping. Water has a high Heat Capacity, meaning that water is able to absorb a lot of heat without having a high increase in temperature. When the balloon is being heated, the water absorbs the heat from the rubber instead of letting the air heat up and expand. This protects the balloon from popping, even as soot gathers on the bottom of it! For a gallon of water, you would need nearly 4,000 calories (or 4 Calories) of heat to raise the temperature by only one degree Celsius. This is why "A watched pot never boils" is a common proverb; a pot of water needs a lot of energy to boil, so you will be watching it for a long time!
Additional Information
- This demonstration pairs well with the Nonburning Money.