Hooked on Science: Hair dryer science

A hair dryer is great for drying hair, but can it be used to help get your family "Hooked on Science?"

Materials

* Hair dryer

* Two balloons

Instructions

STEP 1: Blow up a balloon and tie the end so the air stays in. Blow up another balloon bigger and tie the end so the air stays in.

STEP 2: Turn the hair dryer on and hold the hair dryer so the flow of the air is pushing toward the ceiling.

STEP 3: Place the smaller balloon in the flow of air. Carefully place the larger balloon on top of the smaller balloon and observe.

Explanation

As the flow of air pushes the balloons up, gravity pulls the balloons down, making the balloons look as if they are floating. There is enough air

flowing around the smaller balloon to force the larger balloon into the air.

Jason Lindsey is a science outreach educator with Hooked on Science. Check out his website www.hookedonscience.org for webcasts and experiments.