The Science Behind Popping A Balloon
Monday, October 19, 2015 - 16:00
in Physics & Chemistry
Balloon David Dawson CC by 2.0 If a balloon pops, and there's no one nearby to terrify, does it make a sound? We've all been there. A balloon pops unexpectedly, and our reaction is to leap out of our skins. But once we all get past our collective fear of loud noises, and the devastation that is a popped balloon, there are actually some interesting scientific questions that need answering. In a new study published in Physical Review Letters researchers found that the amount of pressure inside a balloon directly affects how the balloon pops. The authors filmed their experiments with a high-speed camera, allowing them to see how a balloon pops in very slow motion. When you inflate a balloon, you apply stress, or tension, to the...