Take it back to your childhood and look at these 5 incredible balloon science experiments

Science is fun and balloons are fun. So why not combine the two? These experiments will bring out your inner-child (and entertain and actual children that are hanging around. Plus, once you're done "learning" you can play with the balloons properly (balloon volleyball, anyone?)
Check out this list of fun experiments you can do with a balloon and a few other handy items you likely already have on hand.
Advertisement
1. Pin balloons
What do you think will happen when you lay a balloon on top of a pin? It'll pop. But, if you put a balloon on top of a bunch of pins (spread out), nothing happens. Thanks to the distribution of pressure over several pins, you can even push down on the balloon without popping it.
2. Blow up a balloon with science magic
Give your kids a visual of what happens when you mix baking soda and vinegar. The combination of these two ingredients (a bicarbonate and an acetic acid) creates carbon dioxide. The gas generated from the pairing fills the balloon, causing it to inflate.
3. Balloon hovercraft (h/t Deceptively Educational)
When the air is released from the balloon in this project, it is dispersed through small holes in the bottle cap. The air pressure pushes against the floor and allows the hovercraft to move.
4. Balloon water fountain (h/t Learn with Play at Home)
You can't see air, but you know it's there. But, did you know it also takes up space? In this experiment, you'll see that the mere presence of extra air increases the volume in a water bottle, causing the excess liquid to escape through a straw.
5. Learn to bend water (h/t All for the Boys)
This experiment is fun for anyone who still likes a little magic! The static electricity built from rubbing the balloon on your head pushes the stream of water away. The static electricity is a negative charge, and when it nears the positive ions in the water, they repel each other (much like magnets).
Advertisement