Why Does a Fireproof Balloon Not Burst?
This is an experiment in which students will be able to observe a balloon which does not explode by the flamme. They will be able to defy logic by putting flame to the balloon, and the balloon does not pop. The actual magic is of water in the experiment as water has the ability to conduct heat. It has high heat capacity. Water takes a lot of energy and heat to change the temperature by 1 degree celsius. This experiment's objective is to describe the relation between thermal heating or cooling and water’s heat capacity. And compare the water’s and air’s thermal conductivity.
Balloon Experiment
This experiment includes the following materials listed below:
2 balloons
A pair of safety glasses
Lighter or matchsticks
A candle holder and a candle
60 ml water.
In this experiment we have to blow a balloon and tie it up. Then we have to light a candle and place it on a candle holder so that the candle dosen falls and we have to keep it in the center of the table, so that viewers can see the experiment nicely. Put on the safety glasses for personal safety while the experiment is going on. Hold the balloon above the flame at least 30 to 50 cm. Slowly start moving the balloon closer to the flame until it pops. One thing should be noted that the balloon should not touch the flame, it should just be brought closer to the flame. Note the notations and time.
Now take another balloon and add at least 60ml of water inside it and then blow it up to the same size as the first one. As done earlier the same set up should be made and the same way a second balloon should also be brought near the flame. This time ciwers will notice that the balloon does not pop. it will simply leave a mark at the bottom of the balloon.
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Now the question arises why does the balloon which was not filled with water breaks?
The answer to it lies in the experiment itself. The flamme is a substance that heats anything near it and this quality of heat can change the shape and size of the matter. It heats the latex of both the balloons but the rubber of the first balloon which does not contain water becomes very hot and it becomes very weak to resist the pressure exerted by the flame to the balloon. The second balloon which contained water did not break it is because when the filled water inside the balloon is brought near the flame the water starts absorbing most of the heat which comes from the flame. And so the rubber of the balloon does not become hot.
It does not get weak nor does it break. Water is known as a good absorber of the heat, and it takes a lot of heat to change the temperature of the water. To raise the temperature of 1 gram of water by 1 degree celsius it takes a lot of heat it takes nearly the same amount of heat to heat 1 gram of iron.
Fireproof Balloons Experiment Application
We have already discussed how plays an important role in this experiment and so doest it plays in many other things. This experiment explains a lot of things like the water takes a lot of heat to get heated nearly it takes the same heat of heating an iron, and water also releases a lot of heat while being cool or coming back to its temperature. This is why a tea kettle takes a lot of time in boiling. Water cools also very late this is why the areas which are near seas or oceans or large water bodies do not get cold in the winter seasons as the area further inlands.
It’s a vulnerable process of using heat control. The firefighters currently use the fireproof absorbent polymer foams which helps in protecting homes from being consumed by the forest fires or dangerous fires. There is another foam which is known as the water absorbing polymer foam which is just like a baby diaper and is similar to the fireproof absorbent polymer. These foams are applied as shaving cream towards the outside of the house or building which has caught fire.
As the fire grows closer and closer to the house these water filled foams start absorbing the heat energy from the burning fire, whereas on the other side there are firefighters which start to fight with the fire which takes a little time to extinguish it making large amounts of losses. Our body is also made up of 70% of water which balances our body. To control heat our body uses water. When we start to exercise our body starts producing sweets and it does so to regulate the temperature of the body, because of this we don't get overheated. As our sweets start evaporating it takes away all the heat energy along with it leaving cooler skin behind which makes us feel cool.
FAQs on How To Make a Fireproof Balloon: Explained with Physics
1. What is the fireproof balloon experiment and how can it be set up?
The fireproof balloon experiment is a classic physics demonstration that shows how a balloon filled with water can resist popping when exposed to a flame. To perform it, you need two balloons, water, and a candle. Fill one balloon with air and the other with a small amount of water before inflating it with air. When the air-filled balloon is held over the flame, it pops instantly. When the water-filled balloon is held over the flame, it does not pop.
2. Why doesn't a water-filled balloon pop when held over a flame?
A water-filled balloon doesn't pop because of water's high specific heat capacity. This means water can absorb a large amount of heat energy without a significant increase in its own temperature. The heat from the flame is transferred through the balloon's rubber to the water. The water continuously absorbs this heat, keeping the rubber's temperature below its melting or ignition point, thus preventing it from popping.
3. What is the difference between what happens to a water-filled balloon versus an air-filled balloon over a flame?
The difference is due to how air and water handle heat.
- Air-filled balloon: Air has a low specific heat capacity and is a poor heat conductor. The flame rapidly heats a small spot on the rubber. The rubber weakens, and the expanding hot air inside increases the pressure, causing the balloon to pop almost immediately.
- Water-filled balloon: Water has a high specific heat capacity. It absorbs the flame's heat energy efficiently through the process of conduction, preventing any single spot on the rubber from getting hot enough to melt or break.
4. How does the concept of 'specific heat capacity' explain the fireproof balloon experiment?
Specific heat capacity is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a unit mass of a substance by one degree. Water has one of the highest specific heat capacities of any common substance. In the experiment, the flame provides heat, but the water inside the balloon absorbs this energy. Because it takes a lot of energy to raise water's temperature, the water (and the balloon in contact with it) remains well below the boiling point of water (100°C) and the much higher temperature needed to melt rubber.
5. What is the role of thermal conductivity in the fireproof balloon experiment?
Thermal conductivity is crucial. The heat from the flame must first travel from the outside of the balloon to the inside. The thin rubber of the balloon allows this heat to be transferred efficiently to the water via conduction. The water then circulates slightly, distributing the heat away from the single point of contact with the flame. This prevents a dangerous 'hot spot' from forming on the rubber, which would happen with an air-filled balloon where heat is not conducted away effectively.
6. Under what conditions could a water-filled balloon still pop from a flame?
Yes, a water-filled balloon can still pop under certain conditions. These include:
- If the flame touches a part of the balloon that is not in direct contact with the water inside (like the very top or side). In this area, there is only air, and it will pop just like an air-filled balloon.
- If the balloon is held over the flame for a very long time, the water inside could eventually reach its boiling point. The pressure from the steam created could stretch the balloon to its breaking point.
