Meet Sally and Sam, our new resident ghosts. Sam and Sally are friendly ghosts but they do make some noise. Not Boo! More like a screaming WHIRRRRRRRRRRR WHIRRRRRRRRRR WHIRRRRRRRRRR! I blame Steve Spangler for the ghost invasion. The ghosts came into our lives after we tried his Screaming Balloons Experiment. And they've been haunting the house ever since.
Our balloon experiment started out innocently enough. It's actually pretty simple, involves sound and motion and helps teach the following scientific principles:
Centripetal force and Vibration
Materials:
A latex balloon (we used Blue, Helium Quality, 12" size)
1/4" hex nut
Procedure:
(for full directions, see the Steve Spangler Website or reference page 137 in his new book, Naked Eggs and Flying Potatoes)
Place the hex nut into the mouth of the uninflated balloon and shake it down until it rests on the bottom of the balloon.
Blow up the balloon until it is a little over 1/2 way inflated. Take great care so that you don't suck the hex nut back out accidentally. Tie the balloon and examine the hex nut inside. Make the hex nut swirl around inside by moving the balloon in a swirling circular motion. Listen to the balloon scream.
Explanation:
Pulled in a circular motion due to centripetal force, the hex nut swirls around inside the balloon and, in doing so, the flat edges of the hex nut vibrate against the side of the balloon causing a screaming sound.
Our thoughts:
Instantaneously a hit. My daughter simply had no idea that the hex nut would make the screaming noise. Her initial thought was that it would just roll and thump around. Both kids were extremely excited that they could make their balloons "sing." That's right, even my two-year-old could make the balloon scream all by himself just by shaking the balloon up and down (under my watchful supervision - wouldn't want this choking hazard near him without an adult nearby). I first saw this experiment in the new science book Steve Spangler sent me to review, called
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By: Brimful Curiosities,
on 9/12/2010
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By: Brimful Curiosities,
on 9/12/2010
Blog: Brimful Curiosities (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Halloween, Science, Website, Steve Spangler Science, Educational Resources, Science Sunday, Add a tag
12 Comments on Screaming Balloon Ghosts for Halloween - Science Sunday, last added: 9/13/2010
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Very cool. I remember someone else doing this a while ago, but I love your addition of the ghost details.
Wow! My kids would LOVE this! What a great idea!
Its the first time I have seen this experiment and it does seem really cool! Coming thru from Sci. sun.
We did the Spangler balloon thing too, a while back - and posted a video of our own. I like the idea of putting them in the bags - we're not huge ghost fans (although yours are very cute), but then, when the balloon pops, you've got some protection :) Very nice adaptation of the activity!
That is so cool. I love the mix of a fun/crafty idea with the science behind it. Love it!
This would be great fun for a Halloween party!
wow fasinating, we'll have to try that out!
I am holding off on doing this after Leah at Almost Homeschoolers had the video up from when she did it. Selena panicked thinking Leah's little girl had the balloon stuck to her hand. I do love your ghosts though!
That sounds like a great book, and I love how you turned it into a fun diversion later too.
This looks really cool. I'm home today with two sick boys. I think we'll give this a try!
Scary and fun!
Melissa
What a fun twist to a classic experiment. Love this and will have to try it with my kids this Halloween.