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Description

A quick science challenge to fill 15 minutes. Challenge the young people to push a skewer through a balloon without popping it.

Resources

balloons (3 each)
washing up liquid,
vaseline
selotape
skewers

Instructions

Give the Explorers the challenge: using any of the equipment provided, can you push a wooden skewer through an inflated balloon without popping it?
Let them have one go, then tell them that they should try rubbing washing up liquid on the outside of the balloon at the point they want the skewer to go through, and on the skewer. And that the top and bottom of the balloon, where the rubber is thickest, works best. Push slowly but firmly.
Let them have another go.

This works because:
Balloons are made up of long chains of molecules called polymers, which are elastic enough to allow the balloon to stretch. The dish soap reduces surface tension on the balloon, helping the skewer pierce it.

The polymer chains of the balloon close around the skewer, which stops the air from escaping and allows the balloon to stay inflated.

Tags

• 5 Minute Challenge
• balloon
• experiment

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