A simple chemical reaction can be used to blow up a balloon as demonstrated in the last blog post. Now learn how you can use that simple scientific demonstration to make a full fledged science project. The process of the experiment has already been described so here we will focus on the variables that you can use to create the science project.

The size of the water bottle can be the first variable that we use in the project. Does the smaller half liter bottle help blow up the balloon better than a larger one liter bottle? Follow the identical process in both cases and note the difference down in your notebook.

Another variable can be the temperature of the vinegar in the water bottle. Warm up the cup of vinegar in the microwave for a minute and cool down another cup of vinegar in the freezer for one minute. Now use the two different temperatures of the cups of vinegar to observe what happens in the science experiment.

The last variable that you can use is the amount of baking soda that you fill into the balloon. Does two spoons of baking soda fill it up faster than one spoon. What happens if you increase the quantity to three spoons. Answers to all these variables will give you a great science project.

Here is another balloon based science experiment that you can perform. We use the by product of a simple chemical reaction to inflate a balloon. Here’s what all you will need to conduct this experiment.

A half liter water bottle, a balloon, a cup of white vinegar, couple of spoons of baking soda and a funnel. In case you don’t have a funnel handy you can make one out of plain paper by making a cone and taping it to hold it in position.

Stretch the balloon out a bit by pulling it along to loosen the rubber in it. That way it will be easier  Now use the funnel or paper cone to fill the baking soda into the balloon and keep it aside. Pour the cup of vinegar into the empty water bottle.Very carefully without letting any of the baking soda fall into the bottle attach the mouth of the balloon onto the open mouth of the water bottle that contains the vinegar.

Make sure that its a good fit and no air can escape out of the sides. Now hold up the balloon straight so that the baking soda inside can fall into the bottle. As the baking soda reacts with the vinegar the reaction will cause the release of a large amount of carbon dioxide which will shoot up into the balloon and inflate it. A simple science experiment that you can amaze your friends with.

Demonstrating how static electricity can help you roll an empty can of soda is a cool trick, but you can turn this brief and entertaining science experiment into a full fledged science project. The process can be kept the same but introduce some variables into the experiment and then make records of what happens with each variable.

Possible variables could include the size of the balloon, the length of  the person’s hair you charge the balloon on and even the amount of liquid inside the soda can. So here’s how you will structure your science project. Use two different sizes of balloons and see which one is able to roll the can faster.

A second variation will include using two volunteers with different lengths of hair to charge the balloon. Does the balloon get charged better with longer hair or with shorter hair? Try it out and then record the differences in your notebook.

The weight of the soda can may also be a major factor in the ability of the balloon to push it around. If it becomes too heavy the can will not be able to roll at all. So to check just how much water it takes for the can to not move you can measure out 10 ml water and add to the can and try the process again. The science project can have  many results based on the variables that you use.

Science can help you have a lot of fun if you know how to use it right. The static electricity we used to levitate an orb in the last blog post can be put to use to impress your friends or maybe even win a bet. Similar charges repel each other and so as soon as you touch the tinsel with the pipe the charges become the same and begin to push each other away.

Since the tinsel is thinner it levitates. In this case the soda can is heavy so its not going to float up in the air, but you can still get it to move. Here’s how you can move the soda can without your hands ever touching it.

First drink up the soda inside the can. Then blow up a large size balloon. now rub the balloon on your hair or a piece of silk, whichever is handy. Have your friend place the can on its side on a flat surface. Hold the balloon close to the soda can but don’t touch it.

You will find that the can will get attracted towards the balloon and will roll towards it. Make sure that the can does not touch the balloon or the polarity of charges will change and you will no longer be able to perform this science experiment.

Static Electricity is the charge that certain substances develop when they are rubbed against another material. For instance if you rub a plastic comb on your dry hair you will charge the comb with static electricity and be able to pick up small bits of paper with it.

So how are we going to use static electricity to levitate an orb? Let’s find out what materials we will need. You will need a PVC pipe one inch diameter and about two feet in length, along with that you will need some tinsel, the kind that is used to decorate the Christmas Tree at home. Pick the narrowest and thinnest tinsel so that its easy to levitate.

Now tie six strands of the tinsel about 6 inches in length together at both ends. Make sure that the tinsel is not tangles in between so that when it levitates it will form an orb easily. Now use your hair to charge the PVC pipe piece and use it to raise the tinsel orb.

The charge on the PVC pipe repels the tinsel and raises it away from the pipe making the tinsel form an orb. You will need to recharge the pipe with static electricity each time you want to do the levitation science experiment.