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Balloon Boarding

Balloon Boarding

balloon - Elasticity - Polymers - Properties of matter - Distribution of weight - distribution of force - weight - force - kindergarten

This demo uses the concept of weight distribution over a large area to carry students on balloons.

Introduction

When a person puts his whole weight on one balloon, all of the pressure from that person is concentrated on one small area of the balloon, which results in the balloon bursting. When the person's weight is distributed over several balloons, the balloons do not burst because the pressure is spread over a large area. As a result, each balloon only supports a small fraction of the weight.

This trick only works if the balloons are not fully inflated. If this demonstration is done with fully inflated balloons, the rubber is already stretched out and is less elastic. Balloons that are only partially blown up still have the ability to stretch.

This demonstration is similar to asking a volunteer to lie on a bed of nails, a common exhibit found in science centres. If the volunteer were to sit on one nail, it would be extremely painful. But if the weight is distributed over hundreds of nails, there is very little pressure on each individual nail, rendering the experience quite comfortable. The difficulty is when the person is in the process of lying down or getting up, since her weight is distributed on fewer nails, resulting in more pressure being exerted on each nail. Some science centres install handrails on either side for the volunteer to lie down and get up safely. Others have a mechanized system, whereby the volunteer lies down on a table with holes and the nails all rise at the same time, lifting the volunteer. 

This is a recommended post-visit activity for a field trip to Science World at the TELUS World of Science. 

Objectives

Students will be able to:

  • Describe the concept of weight and force distribution.

balloonboard

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Full Lesson & other activities - Balloons