Hooked on Science: The fireproof balloon

Did you know you can hold a flame next to a balloon and the balloon will not burst? Here's another experiment that might get you and your family "Hooked on Science."

Materials

• 2 balloons
• Water
• Matches

Instructions

STEP 1: Blow up a balloon and tie the end so the air stays inside.

STEP 2: Have an adult light a match and place the flame under the balloon. What happened?

STEP 3: Place 1/4 of a cup of water into a balloon.

STEP 4: Carefully blow up the balloon and tie the end so the air and water stay inside the balloon.

STEP 5: Have an adult light a match and place the flamed under the balloon. What happened?

Explanation

The water absorbs the heat from the flame, keeping the balloon from bursting.

Jason Lindsey is a Science Outreach Educator for the Bootheel Youth Museum. Check out his Web site "Hooked On Science" at hookedonscience.org for webcasts and experiments that might get you hooked on science. Send him your science questions at jlindsey@bootheelyouthmuseum.org. More science experiments can be found at www.semissourian.com.