Balloon Experiments

We took part in a little science workshop at SHRIMPs a few weeks ago which the kids loved. They mixed vinegar and bicarbonate soda inside bottles with balloons attached to see how the resulting gas will inflate the balloon. We've since done this many times at home, so many that we've used almost a whole packet of balloons and a litre of vinegar! The spot on the deck where he performed these balloon inflating experiments is particularly clean, because bicarb and vinegar made wonderful cleaning products don't you know!

The other popular experiment from the science workshop which has been duplicated and modified many times since is this balloon-powered 'jet'. Dexter was excited to find an example of this experiment in his library book. He has made lots of different kinds of toilet paper roll jets and tried them out with Hugo as his assistant (passing the sticky tape or balloon pump when necessary). And I don't have any photos but he made an awesome paper plane during the week which had not one but two ballons attached to the wings on either side which he set off all over the house, squealing with delight at the crazy spiral moves it made.

So much fun to be had for $1.95! For the next little while at least I think a packet of balloons will be on our shopping list.