The Science of Popping Balloons

Here is a cool activity that seems to defy forces. Pushing needles and skewers into a balloon will surely make it pop? Well, not quite! Here we show you how you can insert a sharp object into a balloon without it popping! We have two different ways to show you, so make sure you take notes, so you can show all of your friends! Materials: - Balloons - Tape - Needles - Skewers Instructions: (1) Blow up the balloon and tie it closed. (2) Place some thick tape onto the balloon (3) Then gently pierce your needle through the tape and balloon. How many needles can you add? (4) Blow up another balloon and tie it closed. (5) Take a wooden skewer and insert it into the bottom of the balloon. (6) Push it all the way through and out the top of the balloon, without it popping! Science Explained: Balloons pop easily when there is a quick pressure pushing into one spot. However, when adding tape to the balloon, you're also adding reinforcement to the rubber. This extra layer means the balloon won't stretch and burst as it would usually do when pressed with a needlepoint. Similarly, by making sure you add the skewer to the thickest, less-stretched part of the balloon, there is less pressure being put on the balloon. Instead of bursting, the elasticity of the balloon's rubber allows it to stretch. So now you have unpopable balloons!