For today’s episode of For Science! we show you an easy way to get those pesky helium balloon down from the rafters after a celebration. This experiment is very simple and straight-forward but will visually show the properties of weight Vs. buoyance.
Here is what you will need:
- A balloon filled with helium
- A spray bottle filled with water
All that you have to do if spray the balloon with the water bottle. Dry, the balloon filled with helium weighs less than the surrounding air and will therefore float. Once sprayed, the water molecules will make the balloon heavier, causing it to sink to the ground.
This is an example of the fragile balance of buoyance, meaning that it is more than weight and substance that leads to something floating or sinking but instead, it’s density determines buoyance.