This weekend is FREEZING in Fargo! With temperatures at -30 degrees Fahrenheit, you need to be safe and dress EXTREMELY WARM if you're going to go outside! Luckily, these science activities will only require you to be outside for a matter of minutes. Don't forget your hat and gloves!
Balloons and bubbles seem somewhat similar. They are both spherical shapes filled with air largely made up with carbon dioxide. How did the carbon dioxide get there? Remember, you breathe in oxygen, you breathe out carbon dioxide (along with a mixture of other gases). So when you blow up a balloon, you're filling it with a mixture of gases! The other similarity between balloons and bubbles is that both of them will change form when you take them outside in freezing temperatures. Let’s test this out!
Bring your camera to get some cool pictures of your frozen bubbles!
YOU WILL NEED:
- Below freezing temperatures (less than 12 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal)
- Bubble solution (water, liquid dishwashing detergent, white corn syrup)
- Bubble wand
Here's what to do!
1. Make your own bubble wand! Use any supplies you would like to see how you can make the biggest bubble. We've found that styrofoam cups with the base cut off work fabulously! You can also try using hangars, wire, plastic cups, or whatever else you can think of.
2. Make your bubble solution. Mix together 3 cups water, 1 cup liquid dishwashing detergent, and 1/2 cup white corn syrup. Why the corn syrup? Adding corn syrup creates a sugar polymer that is much stronger than your typical soap bubble.
3. Test out your wand. Before you take your bubbles outside, make sure that your wand works well inside! If you are having trouble creating your bubbles, make adjustments to your design. Continue to test and adjust until you're able to blow bubbles consistently with your wand.
4. Time to go outside! Blow some bubbles and let them freeze. If it’s too cold outside, go inside to wait for them to freeze!
5. Come back out 10 minutes later and check out your frozen bubbles.
What exactly is density? Think of a cup of brown sugar. When you scoop it out of the bag, it's loosely packed. If you use a spoon to pack down the brown sugar, it takes up much less than a cup. You still have the same amount of sugar, but it's taking up less room because packing it down made the sugar denser. The same thing happens to gas! When the gas gets cold, it becomes denser and takes up less room. When gas gets warm, it becomes less dense and takes up more room. What do you think will happen when you take an inflated balloon outside? Write down your prediction.
YOU WILL NEED:
- Cold weather (less than 12 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal)
Here's what to do!
1. Blow up a balloon.
2. Write down your prediction.
3. Suit up! Put on your jacket, hat and gloves and take your balloon outside!
4. What's happening to your balloon?! It's deflating! Did the air actually leave the balloon?
5. Bring your balloon back inside and observe what happens to your balloon.
6. Your balloon should have magically re-inflated! How does that work?!
Remember, gas changes volume depending on temperature. When you took your balloon outside, the gas cooled down and shrunk. This caused your balloon to deflate. When you took your balloon back inside, the gas warmed up and returned to the original size before you took your balloon outside. Crazy, huh?! Now get inside and make some hot cocoa!