Do you think that a balloon is strong enough to lift some weight? Hard to believe? Well, then try this interesting balloon and glass experiment to see how a balloon can lift a glass several time its weight. So, let’s get started.
Materials Required
Balloon – 1
Glass – 1
Matchbox – 1
Paper – 1 sheet
Water
Steps to follow
- Inflate the balloon and tie the end.
- Keep the inflated balloon pressed on top of the glass kept on a table, and try to lift the balloon.
Does the glass lift up along with the balloon? No! Now, let’s try this in a different way. - Dip the end of the balloon in some water.
- Light a piece of the paper and put it inside the glass.
It is advisable to have adult supervision when you perform this step, to avoid any mishaps. - Cover the mouth of the glass with the balloon, immediately.
- What do you observe? Some fumes escape around the sides of the glass and the balloon gets sucked inside the glass a little.
- Try lifting the balloon now, a little carefully. Do you notice that the glass seems glued to the balloon? The balloon has indeed lifted the glass.
Amazing isn’t it? Let’s look at the science behind the balloon and glass experiment.
What we learn
When the piece of lighted paper is put inside the glass, it heats up the surrounding air. The air becomes lighter and it tends to move up.
When the mouth of glass gets covered by the balloon, this hot air tries to escape through the gaps around the balloon. This creates a slightly lower pressure inside the glass, and the balloon gets sucked inside. The gaps around the edge of the glass are sealed tight. So, your balloon can easily lift the glass which is much heavier than itself.
Now, aren’t you excited to try it yourself? Visit our Experiments section to try out more such amazing activities.
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