balloon candle water experiment

• 1 matchbox or lighter
• Safety equipment: 1 fire extinguisher

Short explanation

Long explanation.

• What happens if you have more water in the balloon?
• What happens if you use some other liquid instead of water?
• What happens if you hold the balloon over the flame for a longer time?

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Content of website.

Fireproof Balloon

Balloons and flames don't mix, unless you add a little water to conduct heat.

Print this Experiment

Common sense tells you that it’s impossible to boil water in a paper bag, but this classic parlor trick was a favorite of Victorian magicians. The real difficulty in performing this effect is making it look harder than it is! As you might imagine, the secret lies in yet another amazing property of water – its ability to conduct heat. Instead of using a paper bag, this modern day version of the demonstration uses an ordinary balloon, some water, and a candle. It’s a combination that’s guaranteed to make people stand back.

Experiment Videos

Here's What You'll Need

Safety glasses, let's try it.

Blow up a balloon just as you normally would and tie it off.

Light a candle and place it in the middle of the table.

Put on your safety glasses because it’s time to pop the balloon. Hold the balloon a foot or two over the top of the flame and slowly move the balloon closer and closer to the flame until it pops. You’ll notice that the flame doesn’t have to even touch the balloon and the balloon pops. Let’s just say you had to prove what you already know.

Let’s repeat the experiment, but this time the bottom of the balloon will have a layer of water inside.

Fill the balloon to the top with water—it probably holds a few ounces (that’s 60 mL for you scientists out there)—and then blow it up with air. If you accidentally let go of the balloon before you tie it off, you’ll spray yourself, and your friends will love it. Just tie off the balloon and get ready for the next step.

Hold the water-filled balloon at the top while you slowly lower it over the candle and watch as people start to run. Everyone knows that it’s going to pop, but for some strange reason it doesn’t. If you’re very brave, you can actually allow the flame to touch the bottom of the balloon, but it still doesn’t pop.

Remove the balloon from the heat and carefully examine the soot on the bottom. Yes, there’s soot, yet the balloon didn’t pop. Before reading the explanation, try to figure out why the layer of water kept the balloon from popping.

How Does It Work

Water is a great substance for soaking up heat. The thin balloon allows the heat to pass through very quickly and warm the water. As the water closest to the flame heats up, it begins to rise and cooler water replaces it at the bottom of the balloon. This cooler water then soaks up more heat and the process repeats itself.

In fact, the exchange of water happens so often that it keeps the balloon from popping . . . until the heat of the flame is greater than the water’s ability to conduct heat away from the thin balloon and the balloon pops. But watch out! If you turn the balloon so that the candle flame is close to the side of the water balloon, the balloon will pop because the water is not conducting the heat away from the surface of the balloon. At least the water will help put out the fire!

The soot on the bottom of the balloon is actually carbon. The carbon was deposited on the balloon by the flame, and the balloon itself remains undamaged.

Safety Information

WARNING! This science activity uses matches, which means you need to find a very cool supervising adult to help with this experiment.

Real-World Application

Using water to control heat is a valuable process. Special superabsorbent polymer foams are currently being used by firefighters as a way to help protect homes from being consumed by a raging forest fire. The water-absorbing polymer foam is similar to the superabsorbent polymer found in a baby diaper. The foam is applied like shaving cream to the outside of the house. As the fire burns closer and closer to the home, the water-filled foam absorbs heat energy from the fire and buys firefighters some extra time as they try to fight the flames with water.

Your body even uses water to control heat. When you exercise, your body produces sweat in an attempt to regulate your temperature so you don’t get overheated. As the sweat evaporates, it takes heat energy with it, leaving cooler skin behind.

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Why Balloon With Water Does Not Burst? (Fireproof Balloon Experiment)

• July 9, 2021
• 7-9 Year Olds

In this article, lets explore how balloon with water does not burst when exposed to fire.

This Fireproof Balloon Experiment can help kids to learn how heat gets conducted through different materials. This is a great activity to teach all about thermal conductivity.

In this simple science activity, children can hold the balloon over the fire without popping it.

Fireproof Balloon Experiment

The experiment helps kids to understand more about the difference between theremal conductivity of water and air. In addition, they also learn about the transfer of heat in air vs. water.

Things we need

3) Any heat source that emits fire like candle, matches, or lighter

4) Safety Goggles (optional)

That’s it! Just collect these materials and get ready to experience the mind-blowing science of balloons, water, and heat.

Before we land on the experiment directions, let us discuss a few questions that help to awaken your child’s predictions on the activity!

1) What happens to the balloon when brought closer to the fire?

2) What is the role of water inside the balloon?

3) Why the balloon with water does not burst over a hot flame?

4) What is more conductive between water and air?

5) Define the black soot formed on the balloon after the activity.

Simple Step by Step Instructions to make The Fireproof Balloon

Step-1:  As a first step, blow up the balloon in the same way as you regularly do and give it a tight knot at its mouth part.

Step-2:  In the second step, light up the candle and place it on the experiment table. And bring the inflated balloon as closer as possible over the flame. The moment the balloon experiences the heat, it pops out.

Note:  Do not forget to direct your child to put on their safety glasses and hand gloves as they are dealing with fire.

Repeat the same experiment but this time using a little bit of water.

• In  this step, ask your child to blow up another balloon to the same size as the first balloon.
• Add a tiny amount of water into it to form a layer at the bottom of the balloon.
• Later, please give it a knot as usual.

Step-4:  As a fourth step, bring the inflated balloon filled with water over the flame-like just 3-4 cm away from the fire. Whatever the angle you hold the balloon, you need to make sure that the water layer touching side of the balloon is upon the flame.

Step-5:  The final step is to observe the outcome! The inflated balloon with water inside does not pop out even if you make it touch the fire. This is the outcome you must witness after the experiment.

Note: If your balloon blows out even after filling with water, you are going wrong in holding the balloon in the right place. So, re-check the instructions and experiment to see our fire-resistant water balloon.

Here is a small step to do, i.e., continue to hold the balloon over the flame. You will see a black soot formation on the balloon at the point of contact with the fire. To know why to continue reading to explore the science behind it.

The Science behind the Fireproof Balloon Experiment

Materials when exposed to flame/fire, they catch fire only when their temperature reaches above the flash point .

Flash point is nothing but the temperature at which the material itself catches fires and burs on its own.

When the balloon with water exposed to flame, the latex material gets heated up on one side. However since we have water on the other side of material, the heat gets absorbed by the water and the water temperature rises instead of the latex’s temperature.

Water is a great conductor of heat and absorbs heat much better than air. That is the reason the water absorbs heat and changes its temperature when brought over the flame.

On the other hand, the latex material of the balloon also supports the transfer of heat through and inside it.

The heated water molecules have less density and travel upwards, i.e., towards the cooler side. In contrast, the space left by hot water molecules substituted by the cold water molecules. And these cold water molecules get heated up and travel upwards again. So this process inside the balloon continues as a cycle.

As the cycle of exchanging water continues, it makes the balloon fire-resistant and does not allow the balloon to blow up! The balloon can hold the heat until the heat of a fire is greater than the water conductivity of heat.

So, all the magic of resisting heat by the balloon lies in the heat conduction process by water.

The soot formation at the end of the activity is from the flames coming out of the candle’s fire. That is nothing but carbon, the primary substance present in the heat flames. It forms as a layer of black coating on the balloon and keeps it undamaged.

Here is a list of interesting ballon activities to try at home:

Balloon Balance Experiment

Balloon in Hot and Cold water

Balloon in Bottle Experiment

Discussion (extension) Ideas after the experiment

1) In what way, our demonstration relates the temperatures over ocean water and the coastal areas?

2) Will there be any change in the experiment results if you change the amount of water quantity inside the balloon?

3) Find out what the other liquids are the excellent conductors of heat! Perform the same experiment to learn the changes.

4) What is the reason behind the soot formation?

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The Unpoppable Balloon Science Trick

April 17, 2024 By Emma Vanstone Leave a Comment

In this science activity, you can put a balloon into a candle flame without it popping! How is that possible? It’s all about heat transfer .

A balloon filled with air will pop when it gets too close to a flame as the heat from the candle warms the balloon’s skin and weakens it. The trick to making an unpoppable balloon is to add water to it. The heat from the flame heats the water instead of the balloon, which then doesn’t burst.

If you thought putting a skewer through a balloon was impressive, the unpoppable balloon science trick will blow your mind!

You’ll need

Two balloons

Safety goggles

This activity requires adult supervision.

Unpoppable Balloon Instructions

Put safety goggles on.

Light the candle and place it safely on a plate. A tea light candle works well.

Blow up the first balloon and slowly lower it over the lit candle. The balloon will pop.

Half blow up the second balloon and add about 200ml of cold water. Blow it up to the same size as the first one.

Lower the balloon over the candle again. The balloon should be able to touch the flame and not pop.

Why does the balloon containing water not pop?

It’s all about heat transfer . When the first balloon moved near the candle, it popped because the heat from the candle weakened the balloon skin, which then burst.

The balloon containing water didn’t pop, as the water absorbed the heat energy from the candle, not the balloon skin. Thanks to the water, the balloon didn’t get hot enough to burn. Water is much better at absorbing heat than air.

The black substance on the bottom of the balloon containing water is carbon from the candle flame.

Make it an investigation.

To make this activity an investigation, think of a variable to test and a question to answer. Some ideas are:

• How much water is needed to stop a balloon popping?
• Does a bigger balloon burst more easily than a small balloon?
• Does the time a balloon can sit in a flame increase if more water is added?

More science experiments using a balloon

Find out how to burst a balloon with an orange .

Learn about burps with burping balloons .

Design and build a balloon powered car .

Make a balloon rocket with Science Bob!

Discover how a hot air balloon works .

Last Updated on April 18, 2024 by Emma Vanstone

Safety Notice

Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

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Balloon survives the flame

Follow FizzicsEd 150 Science Experiments:

You will need:

• A balloon filled with water
• Adult supervision.
• A small plate

• Instruction

Light the bottom of the candle and allow the wax to melt. Then stick the candle onto the plate.

Fill a balloon with water and tie its end. Make sure that you keep the balloon fairly small to avoid stretching the rubber too much.

Light the candle and place the balloon over the flame so that the flame touches the balloon.

Slowly count to ten and then remove the balloon from the flame. It should not have popped.

Try the same experiment with a balloon filled with air. It should pop straight away. Or try holding the water balloon over the flame for a longer period of time. Will it eventually pop?

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Why Does This Happen?

You’ll find that you can run this for quite a while longer than the air-filled balloon purely because the water will continue to absorb the heat from the flame. So, how long could you run this? Well, it really depends on how much water you have in the balloon as well as the quality of the rubber balloon itself. Try varying the levels of the water in the balloon and see how long your experiment can last!

BTW; whilst the water balloon survives the flame, the water inside the balloon will start to cycle around and around due to convection. Convection is the movement of either gases or liquids due to uneven heating causing density changes that drive movement. How does this convection work in the balloon then?

– Warmer water rises due to the water expanding and becoming less dense than the surrounding colder water.

– As the warmer water rises, the surrounding colder water moves underneath to replace the warm water.

– Once the warmer water reaches the top of the balloon it is away from the flame… so it contracts as it cools down. This contraction makes this water denser and so this water moves down again.

– In the meantime… the water that had moved near the candle flame also heats up and expands & rises… and the process keeps repeating as a continual circular motion of water within the balloon!

Variables to test

More on variables here

• Try different size balloons.
• Can you reduce the amount of water in the balloon and still have it survive the flame?
• Does adding very cold water to the balloon make it survive significantly longer?

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The Fireproof Balloon

By -->don glass -->, posted february 2, 2004.

• Listen in Popup
• Download MP3

Want to try an experiment involving water, fire, and a balloon?

First you'll need to blow up a balloon. Next, light a candle. What do you think will happen when you put the flame under the balloon?

It'll pop, of course. The flame will heat the rubber to the point where it becomes weak and can't hold up under the pressure from the air inside. But what happens when you add water to the mix?

Put about a quarter cup of water in the balloon and blow it up. Then light another candle. When you place the flame under the balloon, the balloon won't pop!

As long as the flame is beneath the water in the balloon, the water absorbs most of the heat and the rubber doesn't get very hot. Eventually the water will get hot enough to break the rubber.

Water has a really large specific heat, meaning that it takes a lot of heat to make water boil, and even more heat to make it vaporize. In fact, it takes about 540 calories of heat to evaporate one gram of water.

However, if you move the flame to another part of the balloon it will pop.

About A Moment of Science

A Moment of Science is a daily audio podcast, public radio program and video series providing the scientific story behind some of life's most perplexing mysteries. Learn More »

Science Fun

Flameproof Balloon Easy Science Experiment

In this fun and easy science experiment we are going to use science to create a flameproof balloon. 

Important: An adult’s assistance is required for this experiment as flames and matches are involved. 

• Matches or lighter
• Tea light or small candle

Instructions:

• Blow up one of the balloons and tie off the end. Do not blow up the other balloon at this time.
• Have an adult light the candle.
• Hold the balloon over the flame and observe what happens.
• Now add a few ounces of the cold water to the second balloon.
• Blow up the balloon and tie off the end.
• Slowly lower the balloon toward the flame and observe what happens. 

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How it Works:

The water absorbs the heat from the flame which momentarily allows the balloon to appear flameproof. The water will eventually get warm enough that is can no longer successfully absorb enough heat which will result in the balloon popping. 

Make This A Science Project:

Try adding salt to the water. Try adding different amounts of water to the balloon. Try adding water beads to the balloon (Be sure to perform your experiment over a tray in case the balloon pops to keep the water beads from going everywhere!)

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previous experiment

Next experiment.

Fireproof Balloons

Activity length, chemical reactions states of matter, activity type, discrepant event (investigatable).

In this activity, students can defy logic by putting flame to a balloon without popping it, thanks to the ability of water to conduct heat.

Water has a high heat capacity . In other words, it takes a lot of heat and energy to change the temperature of water by 1 o C.

The high heat capacity of water is due to the fact that it takes a lot of energy to separate water molecules (the physical bonds are very strong). Water has a heat capacity about four times that of air. This means that it takes about four times as much heat to raise the temperature of a balloon full of water than it would a similar sized balloon filled with air.

As the water-filled balloon is put on the flame, the heat of the flame is easily absorbed through the balloon and into the water. The water directly above the hot spot rises, cools, and sinks again, carrying away the heat from the hot spot (this cycle is called a convection current ). In other words, the thin rubber surface that is being heated is cooled by the comparatively large volume of water above it. This cooling process continues until either all of the water in the balloon becomes too hot, or until a far more concentrated source of heat, such as a blowtorch, is applied to one small area on the balloon,

When an air-filled balloon is placed in a flame, it bursts. Air is a relatively poor conductor of heat away from the thin layer of rubber. As a result, the rubber overheats and the physical bonds holding the rubber polymers together are broken.

Describe the relationship between water’s heat capacity and thermal heating or cooling.

Compare the thermal conductivity of air and water.

Per Demo: a pair of safety glasses 2 round balloons matches or lighter a candle with candleholder 60 ml of water

Key Questions

• Predict what will happen when I bring the balloon with air to the flame.
• .For the balloon with water inside, what could happen (possible answers: the balloon will burst; the balloon will take more time to burst; the balloon will take less time to burst; the balloon will never burst.)
• Why does the balloon with water in it not burst?
• Why is water more conductive than air (hint how are the particles arranged)?
• What did you notice about where the flame touched the balloon?
• Blow up a balloon and tie it off.
• Light a candle and place it in the middle of the table so the students can see.
• Put on your safety glasses.
• Hold the balloon 30–50 cm over the top of the flame and slowly move the balloon closer and closer to the flame until it pops. Note: The flame does not need to touch the balloon before the heat melts the latex and it bursts.
• Add about 60 ml of water to the second balloon and then blow it up to the same size as the first balloon.
• As before, slowly lower the balloon over the candle flame. The balloon will not pop. You can let the flame touch the balloon and it will still not pop. It will leave a sooty mark on the bottom of the balloon.
• How does this relate to oceans and the temperature inland vs. by a coast?
• How would changing the amount of liquid in the balloon affect the results?
• Boil water in a paper cup over a Bunsen burner.Make predictions regarding the heat capacity of water versus other liquids (e.g. honey or shampoo). Which will heat up faster? Do not test any flammable liquids (e.g. alcohols or lighter fluid) or liquids that produce noxious fumes.
• How does heat travel through solids, liquids, gases, and vacuums?
• Why is soot produced/what is soot?

Other Resources

Science World |Youtube| Demonstrate the Transfer of Heat Energy (using Hot & Cold Water)

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In the activities that follow, students explore balloon properties and their use in demonstrating various scientific concepts. list of activities…, in these activities students explore the impressive force of air and learn how air pressure affects their daily lives., wonderful water, what are the physical and chemical properties of water that make it so unique and necessary for living things…, related school offerings.

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How to Fireproof a Balloon

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This fun and simple science experiment only requires a few household materials along with some adult supervision to teach kids about the high heat capacity of water. Here is How to Fireproof a Balloon.

Get more fun and simple Weather experiments for kids here!

PIN THIS EXPERIMENT FOR LATER

This experiment is super fun, and should only take 10 minutes or less to gather up the supplies around your house and enjoy some eye-popping (and balloon-popping) excitement!

Table of Contents

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Supplies Needed:

• Safety glasses
• A Long Stem Lighter
• Adult supervision

• Blow up the first balloon with air
• Ignite the lighter
• Don’t forget to put your safety glasses on
• Slowly lower the balloon closer to the flame until it pops
• Fill the second balloon with water and then air it up
• Hold the water-filled balloon from the top and lower it towards the flame
• Remove the balloon from the heat and examine the balloon

Step 1: Blow up the first balloon

Use your mouth, or you can use an inflation pump if you choose to fill one of your balloons with air. It doesn’t really matter how big or small the size of the balloon as long as you are consistent with the size for both balloons.

One important thing to consider though is that the larger you blow up your balloons, the larger the explosion will be when the balloon pops!

Once you have blown your balloon up to your desired size, be sure to tie if off so that it holds the air.

Step 2: Light your lighter

This is where the adult supervision becomes very important as we will be playing with fire.

If you are using a lighter, then you will need to hold the lighter steady with one hand under the balloon, while holding the balloon above the lighter with the other hand.

You can also use a candle for your flame source. The benefit of using a candle is that it will free up your other hand from holding the lighter while giving you two hands to hold the balloon. Check out this Balloon and Candle Experiment to see this experiment done with a candle instead of a lighter.

Step 3: Don’t forget your safety glasses!

This is probably the most important step of the experiment because safety is always important!

Now that we have a balloon aired up and a flame going, you will need to put your safety glasses/ safety goggles on. This will protect your eyes from any flying balloon pieces when the balloon explodes!

I might even recommend putting your eye protection on at the very beginning of the experiment and not waiting until step 3. This will help you not forget about your safety once you are in the middle of all the fun!

Step 4: See how close you can get your balloon to the flame before it pops

Now that your balloon is aired up, your flame is burning, and your goggles are on, you are ready to see what happens when you heat your balloon up with the flame.

Whether you are using a candle, or a long stem lighter, hold your balloon from the top and lower the bottom of the balloon closer to the flame below it.

The thin latex on the balloon will start to heat up and weaken due to the flame below it. Eventually the pressure inside the balloon will become high enough to burst the balloon before the flame even touches the bottom.

No matter how prepared you are for it, this is the part that will always surprise you since there is no way to know exactly when the balloon will bust in your face (Another reason to wear eye protection)!

Step 5: Fill the second balloon with water and air and try again

Now that we know the balloon with just air will quickly pop when heated up from the flame, let’s see what happens when we add a little water inside the balloon.

Before inflating your second balloon with air, simply pour a little bit of cool, or room temperature water into the deflated balloon. Using a measuring cup with a pouring spout, or small funnel will help with this step.

Once you have filled the balloon with the small amount of water that it will hold, go ahead and inflate it with air to about the same size as your first balloon and tie it off.

Step 6: Lower the water-filled balloon towards the flame

Now that we have a balloon filled with mostly air, and a little puddle of water in the bottom, go ahead and repeat step 4 with this new balloon and see what happens!

Depending on how brave you are, you can actually lower the bottom of the balloon to touch the flame and it still should not pop! The water inside your balloon has made your balloon fireproof…for a little while anyway.

I tried this several times and depending on much much water is in your balloon and how large your balloon is will determine how long your balloon can resist popping against the flame.

Step 7: Remove the balloon from the flame and examine the bottom of the balloon

Your balloon might not have popped while holding it over the flame, but it will look a little bit different where the flame was in contact with the bottom of the balloon.

You will notice some black soot on the bottom that appears to have burnt the balloon. Believe it or not the balloon is perfectly fine and not burnt or damaged.

The black soot on the balloon is a result of the carbon deposited from the flame onto the balloon. You can actually take a wet paper towel and wipe most of it off your balloon and it will look perfectly normal again!

Pretty cool huh!? Not lets dive into the science behind how the high heat capacity of water is what really keeps your balloon from popping over the flame!

Why Does a Balloon Filled With Water Not Pop?

Water has a much higher heat capacity than other materials such as rocks and dirt. This high heat capacity of the water in the bottom of the balloon quickly absorbs the heat from the flame and keeps the latex cooler.

The water that is heated by the flame then rises to the top of the puddle and is replaced to cooler water that is then heated up and rises. This cycle continues to keep the balloon from popping until all of the water is heated.

Try some variables:

You can try different variables like different sizes of balloons, how much water is in your balloon, and how long you hold it over the flame to see if that changes how long your balloon remains fireproof.

How Does the High Heat Capacity of Water Influence the Weather?

Thanks to water’s incredible ability to absorb heat and energy, areas near large lakes and oceans are typically more temperate than areas surrounded by land.

For example, a place like Honolulu, Hawaii that is surrounded by the ocean often times only sees daily temperature fluctuations between high and low temperatures of about 10°F.

Meanwhile, areas like Phoenix, Arizona that are landlocked and away from large bodies of water can see vary large daily temperature fluctuations between the high and low temperatures of over 30°F.

More Easy Science Experiments for Kids:

• Rain in a Bottle Experiment
• 3 Easy Ways to Make a Cloud in a Bottle
• How to Pop a Balloon Without Touching It

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• Home Experiments

Balloon Thermal Experiment

• by Joe Crowley
• in Home Experiments
• on January 4, 2021

Contributed by Yutao Zhou

Introduction

• We know that balloons would pop easily, but what if I tell you I could make a balloon survive fire simply by putting some water into it?

1. First we light a candle

2. Then we find a balloon and fill it up with water.

3. After we fill it up with water and put the balloon directly above the fire, we will see that the balloon would get toasted but it would not pop.

4. We remove the water in the balloon and blow it up to the same size with air.

5. Place the balloon above the fire again, it will pop within a second.

Physics Concepts and Questions

Why does the very same balloon pop when there isn’t water in it?

This is because the water inside the balloon absorbed the heat from the fire.

Conclusions and Further Investigations

• Would the size of the balloon affect the result of the experiment.

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The Invincible Balloon Experiment

When a balloon goes up against a candle there seems like there can only be one winner! 

Think again, here's how to make your balloon invincible and learn a thing or two about conductivity too!

What Do I Need?

• Balloon (or two!)

How Do I Do It?

STEP1 - Make sure you've got an adult to help out. The first step is to light the candle. If you want to prove what you know will happen you can try lowering your balloon over the flame.

WARNING:   Your balloon will pretty quickly go pop!

STEP2   - Let's make the balloon invincible. Fill your balloon up with water, then inflate it. This means there will be a small puddle of water in the bottom of the balloon.

STEP3   - Slowly lower your balloon down on top of the flame of the candle. Hold it there, does it go pop? You can lower it right down and actually put the candle out with the balloon. Finally, make sure to have a look at the bottom of the balloon.

What’s Going On?

Well, why does the balloon go pop when there is no water inside of it? It's really just the heat from the candle melting the outside of the balloon till it's so weak that it can't contain the pressure of the air that's inside of it!

How does the water make a difference? That puddle of water inside of the balloon pulls the heat away from the surface of the balloon. This is called conduction. 

So, instead of the balloon skin getting so hot it melts, the heat is spread (or 'dissipated') into the water that's inside the balloon. That water slowly starts to get warmer but the balloon doesn't pop.

More Fun Please! - Experiment Like A Real Scientist!

• Try adding different amounts of water to the balloon, does that make a difference?
• How about if you blow the balloon up really full of air?

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20 Balloon Experiments to Make Your Lessons Really Pop

See what we did there?

There’s something about the sight of colorful balloons that just makes you feel a little excited, don’t you think? That’s why kids will go crazy for these balloon experiments, whether they’re building a balloon-powered boat or powering a light bulb with static electricity. Plus, balloons are inexpensive, so stock up at the dollar store and get ready to throw a science party!

1. Blow up a balloon … without blowing

This is one of those classic balloon experiments everyone remembers doing in school. Kids learn about chemical reactions by mixing acids and bases. They’re always amazed at the results!

Learn more: Balloon Baking Soda Experiment

2. Design a balloon-powered car

Explore the laws of motion and encourage creativity when you challenge students to design, build, and test their own balloon-powered cars. Bonus: Use only recycled materials to make this project green! ( Find more cool car activities for the classroom here. )

Learn more: Balloon-Powered Car Challenge

3. Skewer a balloon without popping it

If you do this one right, you’ll make kids’ eyes pop—but not the balloon! They’ll learn about the polymers that make balloons possible, and even a little bit about how to stay cool under pressure.

Learn more: Balloon Skewer

4. Float a balloon-powered boat

Discover the power of air pressure and the third law of motion with this fun and inexpensive balloon experiment. Take this one outside on a sunny day and let kids splash away while they learn!

Learn more: Balloon-Powered Sponge Boat

5. Create ice crystal explosions

Fill balloons with water and leave them to freeze overnight. The next day, carefully cut open the balloons to reveal the beauty inside. Kids learn about crystallization and the expansion of water as it freezes. ( Get more science experiments involving ice and snow here. )

Learn more: Super Cool Melting Ice Experiment

6. Explore the science of swim bladders

Just how do fish manage to float without sinking or rising? Find out when you explore buoyancy with this swim bladder experiment using a glass bottle, balloon, and a few other basic materials.

Learn more: How Fish Sink and Float

7. Assemble a heart pump model

Anatomy lessons literally come alive when you do balloon experiments like this one. This working heart model demonstrates how blood pumps through the valves and chambers.

Learn more: DIY Heart Pump

8. Learn how lungs work

Your students might be surprised to learn that lungs have no muscles to make them work. Instead, the contraction of the diaphragm pulls air in and forces it out. This clever model helps explain the process.

Learn more: Lung Science Experiment

9. Blast off with a two-stage rocket

The rockets used for space flight generally have more than one stage to give them the extra boost they need. This experiment uses balloons to model a two-stage rocket launch, teaching kids about the laws of motion.

Learn more: Two-Stage Balloon Rocket

10. Build a hovercraft

It’s not exactly the same model the military uses, but this simple hovercraft is a lot easier to build. An old CD and a balloon help demonstrate air pressure and friction in this simple experiment.

Learn more: DIY Hovercraft

11. Parachute a water balloon

Water balloon experiments make a big splash with kids! In this one, they’ll explore how air resistance slows a water balloon’s landing using a homemade parachute.

Learn more: Water Balloon Skydiving

12. Sink or swim with water balloons

Fill water balloons with a variety of different liquids like oil, salt water, and corn syrup, then float them in a bucket of water to learn about density and buoyancy.

Learn more: Water Balloon Experiment

13. Perform the two balloons experiment

You have two balloons, one filled with more air than the other. When you open the valve between them, what will happen? The answer is almost certain to surprise you. Learn how it works in the video at the link below.

Learn more: Air Pressure Experiment

14. Power a light bulb with static electricity

One of the first balloon experiments most kids try is rubbing a balloon on their hair to make their hair stand on end. The next step is to hold the balloon over a compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) to see it glow from the static electricity. Wow!

Learn more: Magic Light Bulb Balloon Science Experiment

15. Spin a penny round and round

In this simple experiment, students use kinetic energy and centripetal force to spin a penny inside a balloon. They’ll want to try other objects too, so hold a contest to see which spins the longest.

Learn more: The Spinning Penny

16. Fire up an air cannon

Discover the power of an air vortex with this easy DIY air cannon. To really understand how it works, use some incense to create visible smoke rings that will really impress your students.

Learn more: Air Cannon Smoke Ring

17. Create a working water fountain

See the power of air pressure when you build a balloon-activated water fountain. You’ll only need simple supplies like a plastic bottle, straw, and putty.

Learn more: Water Bottle Fountain

18. Explore the effects of hot and cold air

The concept of expansion and contraction of air can be hard to visualize. That’s where this experiment comes in to save the day. Watch the balloon expand and contract as the air around it changes temperature.

Learn more: Exploring the Effects of Hot and Cold Air

19. Fireproof a balloon

A balloon will obviously pop when touched to a hot flame, right? Not if you put some cold water in it first! Kids will be so amazed they won’t even realize they’re learning about the heat conductivity of water.

Learn more: Fireproof balloon

20. Experiment with balloons and pushpins

A pin pops a balloon in no time flat, so what happens when you place a balloon on a table full of them? Once again, the answer won’t be quite what your students expect until you explain the science of distributed pressure.

Learn more: Pinning a Balloon

Have more balloon experiments to add to the list? Come and share in our We Are Teachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.

Plus, check out our big list of easy science experiments .

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40 Easy Kindergarten Science Experiments for Hands-On Learning

Every day brings a new discovery! Continue Reading

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• Physics Article
• Balloon Experiment

How to Make a Fireproof Balloon

Most of us would have encountered a scenario, where the balloon we had tried to fill up gets exploded it comes in contact with a candle on a certain occasion. Fortunately, there is a way in basic physics where we would be able to prevent that from happening. To know how to do it, let us look at the fireproof balloon experiment given below.

Fireproof Balloon Experiment

We know that balloons are made of rubber and are fragile. The balloon, when it comes in contact with fire, burns. A fire can weaken the rubber and cause it to burst. Water is a substance with high heat capacity. It acts against fire and helps from catching fire. Let us now have a look at the fireproof balloon experiment.

• Water faucet.
• Fill the balloon with air by blowing yourself.
• Use a lighter and hold it below the balloon (it would explode).
• Take another balloon and fill it with a little bit of water.
• Once you have filled the balloon with water, fill the rest space with the air.
• Try holding a lighter underneath it. Unlike last time, it will not explode despite the bottom part of the balloon being in contact with flame, rather it will turn into black colour.
• The balloon will have the deposition of soot on it (black colour).

From the above observation, you might have seen that it is quite difficult to prevent the balloon from exploding unless you fill it with water.

• When an air-filled balloon is placed over a flame, it bursts. 
• When a water-filled balloon is placed over a flame, it does not burst. 
• Why do air-filled balloons burst? The rubber of the balloon in the absence of water gets so hot when in contact with fire and becomes too weak to resist the pressure of the air inside the balloon. Hence, the balloon bursts with a bang!

Conclusion :

• Why do water-filled balloons not burst?

NOTE: Perform the fireproof balloon experiment with proper guidance and safety measures.

Fireproof Balloon Experiment Application

• The water-absorbing polymer foam used in the baby diapers is the superabsorbent polymer that works based on the experiment.
• Super absorbent polymer foams are used as a protective layer at homes from catching fire.
• Even the human body uses sweat as a protective layer during exercises or physical activities in order to regulate body temperature.

Through this fireproof balloon experiment, you would see how the subject of science is so fascinating as it has a lot of unexplored areas yet to be discovered. Hence, projects like these would provide the impetus for you to probe more into the domain of science. Stay tuned with BYJU’S to learn more.

Have a look at various interesting science experiments:

• How to Make a Volcano
• How to Make a Windmill
• How to Make a Potato Clock
• How to Make a Water Clock

Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs

When the balloon is in contact with the flame, the black colour deposition on the balloon is seen. what is it known as, state true or false: water is a good absorber of heat., what happens when the air-filled balloon is placed over a flame, state true or false: the rubber of the balloon without water becomes hotter than the rubber of the balloon with water., what happens when a water-filled balloon is placed overa a flame.

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