Sitting on balloons is a favorite pastime at our house. The bouncy balloon chair makes my sons giggle, but it's short lived when it pops. The popping elicits even more giggles because that is the surprise. When balloons popping was mixed with fire, I knew we had to try it.
I asked my sons what would happen if I held a balloon over a candle. My 4-year old said that it would make a hole. So I lit a candle and held a balloon over it. A couple of seconds later and it popped. I took another balloon and added water to, then blew it up. I asked again, what will happen? They said the balloon would pop, and the water would put out the candle. So I held it over the candle, but it never popped. My sons were so amazed that they had to try it, but it didn't pop. My husband eventually took the balloon and held it over the flame where there was no water, which caused a small leak. The anticipated big water fall pop didn't happen.
I explained that the water takes the heat away from the balloon, so it doesn't pop. I also explained the safety of matches, candles, and fire. It's okay to take risks in science using proper PPE (personal protective equipment). They need toddler safety glasses.
I did this with high school students over a gas stove. The water balloon didn't pop right away, but with too much heat it will.
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