Bernoulli's Balloons
Summary
You hold up two balloons on strings of equal length about 5 centimeters apart and blow between them. They will come together because you weakened the force between them. You can do the same thing with the balloons about 30 centimeters apart. They too will come together with a little harder breathing. This demonstrates a random movement and force known as Bernoulli's Principle.
CollapseLearning Goals
Develop the understanding of a force with which most fifth graders have no prior knowledge. Expand the experiment and depth of understanding using real life examples: demonsrate how this force acts on an airplane wing to help the plane to create a force know as lift.
Context for Use
This is done during a lab lecture. The equipment used is two balloons and two strings. Skills may not be mastered but are introduced more than once.
1. With balloons
2. Blowing between to pop cans next to each other.
The experiment is completed in small groups with a handout (see attached). Recommended as an indoor experiment to prevent the wind's effect on the results.
1. With balloons
2. Blowing between to pop cans next to each other.
The experiment is completed in small groups with a handout (see attached). Recommended as an indoor experiment to prevent the wind's effect on the results.
Description and Teaching Materials
The lesson will be introduced by what forces help a plane to fly. Materials include: 2 pop cans, 2 balloons, and 2 pieces of string. Students will blow between the balloons and pop cans to see the effect. After documenting these results, students take a piece of paper and blow down on it, which makes it rise up. This demonstrates the lift on a wing of an airplane.
See attached handout received - "Zinger #19". Bernoulli's Balloons Worksheets (Acrobat (PDF) 21.9MB Aug24 07) Bernoulli's Balloons Worksheets Questions (Acrobat (PDF) 1.1MB Aug24 07)
See attached handout received - "Zinger #19". Bernoulli's Balloons Worksheets (Acrobat (PDF) 21.9MB Aug24 07) Bernoulli's Balloons Worksheets Questions (Acrobat (PDF) 1.1MB Aug24 07)
Teaching Notes and Tips
Assessment
Standards
This activity directly supports MN Academic Science Standards for Fifth Grade Physical Science: Motion. It teaches the direction of force caused by Bernoulli's Principle.