Wednesday, 17 May 2006
Stuck at home on a rainy afternoon? Bored? Don't
worry, I have a cool experiment you can do that will make being inside as
much fun as the outdoors. Think how impressed your folks will be when you
show them how to make balloons float by using only household items.
Caution: Do not try any of these experiments without adult
supervision! If you are over eighteen, then why are you stuck at
home? Go to a movie!
Making Homemade Helium
Safety Equipment: Eye wear.
What you'll need: A bottle with a narrow
neck
Vinegar
Baking soda
Funnel
Water Balloon Step One: Pour about two
inches of liquid; one inch vinegar, and one inch water
into your bottle.
Step Two: Use your funnel to fill
the balloon half full of baking soda. Make sure you use plenty of baking
soda! If you don't use enough your balloon will partialy
inflate.
Step Three: It's important to make
sure you have wiped the neck clean of any moisture! If the balloon gets
wet you have a chance of getting the baking soda moistened, and you could
possibly ruin the experiment. Stretch the open end of the balloon
over the neck of the bottle. Make sure it's on tight!
Let the heavy end of the balloon dangle, so no baking soda goes in the
bottle.
Step Four: Hold onto the ballon at
the bottle neck, and pick up the heavy part of the balloon so that all the
baking soda falls into the vinegar at the bottom of the bottle.
You should hear a lot of fizzing! The bottle should
look like it does when you shake a can of soda! Now Let's see the results of our
experiment!
Congratulations on a successful experiment! |