Hot Air Balloon and Adult Supervision
Make a Fire Extinguisher
In order to put out a fire, one of three things must be removed from it: heat, fuel, or oxygen. Knowing this, firefighters don't always use water to put out a fire.
Materials
* Empty soda bottle * 5 tablespoons of vinegar * 1/2 tablespoon of baking soda * Tea light candle
Procedure:
Ask an adult for permission before lighting the candle! 1. Light the candle. 2. Pour the vinegar into the bottle and add the baking soda. (You may want to use a funnel.) The mixture should fizz. 3. Hold the bottle sideways over the lighted candle, making sure no liquid escapes. What happens to the flame?
Explanation:
The baking soda and vinegar react to make carbon dioxide, a gas that is heavier than oxygen. As it "pours" out of the bottle, it pushes the lighter oxygen away from the candle. The fire, now deprived of oxygen, can no longer burn.
Make a Mini Hot Air Balloon + Air Density
Learn about air density as you make a simple hot air balloon in this easy science project. In its simplest construction, a hot air balloon is comprised of an envelope (the balloon part), a basket, and a fuel source. We'll show you how to construct an envelope from a super-lightweight trash can liner and fuel your balloon with birthday candles.
What You Need: * Aluminum foil (for the basket) * Birthday candles (for the fuel) * Scissors * Ultra-thin garbage bag (like those lining office trash cans and those that dry cleaners use*) * Plastic straws (for the frame) * Clear tape * Lighter * Adult supervision and common sense * Plenty of indoor space * String (if flying your balloon in a space where it can travel beyond your reach)
*If using a dry cleaner's bag, you'll need to seal the hole at the top that the hanger goes through.
FIRE SAFETY: Although this project uses only birthday candles, which even very young children put their faces near when blowing them out on birthday cakes, always exercise
In order to put out a fire, one of three things must be removed from it: heat, fuel, or oxygen. Knowing this, firefighters don't always use water to put out a fire.
Materials
* Empty soda bottle * 5 tablespoons of vinegar * 1/2 tablespoon of baking soda * Tea light candle
Procedure:
Ask an adult for permission before lighting the candle! 1. Light the candle. 2. Pour the vinegar into the bottle and add the baking soda. (You may want to use a funnel.) The mixture should fizz. 3. Hold the bottle sideways over the lighted candle, making sure no liquid escapes. What happens to the flame?
Explanation:
The baking soda and vinegar react to make carbon dioxide, a gas that is heavier than oxygen. As it "pours" out of the bottle, it pushes the lighter oxygen away from the candle. The fire, now deprived of oxygen, can no longer burn.
Make a Mini Hot Air Balloon + Air Density
Learn about air density as you make a simple hot air balloon in this easy science project. In its simplest construction, a hot air balloon is comprised of an envelope (the balloon part), a basket, and a fuel source. We'll show you how to construct an envelope from a super-lightweight trash can liner and fuel your balloon with birthday candles.
What You Need: * Aluminum foil (for the basket) * Birthday candles (for the fuel) * Scissors * Ultra-thin garbage bag (like those lining office trash cans and those that dry cleaners use*) * Plastic straws (for the frame) * Clear tape * Lighter * Adult supervision and common sense * Plenty of indoor space * String (if flying your balloon in a space where it can travel beyond your reach)
*If using a dry cleaner's bag, you'll need to seal the hole at the top that the hanger goes through.
FIRE SAFETY: Although this project uses only birthday candles, which even very young children put their faces near when blowing them out on birthday cakes, always exercise