Hooked on Science: Skewer a balloon

Materials

• Skewer
• Balloon

Instructions

• STEP 1: Blow up the balloon, let some of the air out, and tie a knot at the end to hold the air inside. Describe the balloon using its observable properties.
• STEP 2: Gently twist the skewer into the thick part of the balloon near the knotted end. Continue to push the skewer through the balloon slowly, until it is all the way through the thick end. Stop and observe. Explain how the balloon can be used as a model to describe that matter is made of particles too small to be seen.

Explanation

The balloon is made up of polymers, which are a bunch of molecules linked together to form long chains. These long chains link up around the skewer, keeping the air from escaping.