INVESTIGATORY PROJECT

IN PHYSICS

Hypothesis

A balloon filled with water will be able to withstand fire. Thermal conduction is the
ability of a medium to allow heat to be conducted through it. The heat will always travels
from a hotter spot to a cooler spot. For example, if one end of a metal rod is heated up,
the heat will gradually travel to the other end until the entire rod becomes hot. Thermal
conduction exists in solids, liquids and gasses.

The conduction of heat through a medium happens because the particles in the medium
vibrate or move faster when heat is applied to it. This vibration or movement of the
particles will start at the point where the heat originates. As the particle energy and
vibration increase, they will collide with the neighboring particles and transfer thermal
energy to them. When this happens the temperature of the original particle will drop and
the temperature of the neighboring particle will increase. However the original particle
will replenish the energy again from the heat source. This process will continue until the
entire medium reaches thermal equilibrium where the temperature is the same
everywhere in the medium.

Thermal conduction can also take place between different mediums that are at different
temperatures. An example is boiling water in a metal pot. The stove is the source of the
heat. The fire from the stove will heat up the metal pot. As the temperature of the pot
increases and its particles start to vibrate more quickly, the heat is transferred to the water
in the pot and the water molecules increase their movement and collisions with other
water molecules. This will go on until the water in the pot begins to boil.

Scientific Terms
Thermal conduction, solid, liquid, gas, thermal equilibrium
Materials

The materials required for this science fair project:

- 1 matchbox
- 1 candle
- 1 yellow colored balloon
- 1 blue colored balloon
- Half a cup of water

Procedure

1. For this experiment, the independent variable is whether the balloon is filled with
water or not. The dependent variable is what happens to the balloon when it is placed
above the lit candle. This is determined by observing the balloon. The constants (control
variables) are how much the balloon is inflated and the amount of water in the balloon.

2. Inflate the yellow colored balloon and tie it up.

3. Pour half a cup of water into the blue colored balloon before inflating it to the same
size as the yellow color balloon and tie it up.

4. Light up the candle. Be careful when using match sticks to avoid causing fires, or
burning yourself.

5. Hold the yellow colored balloon on top of the lit candle. Observe and record what
happens.

6. Hold the blue colored balloon on top of the lit candle. Observe and record what
happens.

The yellow colored balloon with only air explodes when held on top of the candle but the
blue colored balloon does not explode.
Conclusion

The hypothesis that a balloon filled with water will be able to withstand fire is proven
to be true.

Most of the balloons are made from rubber which has a thermal conductivity of 0.16
W•K-1•m-1. The yellow colored balloon was filled with only air which has a thermal
conductivity of 0.025W•K-1•m-1. Therefore the balloon surface over the candle was not
able to transfer much heat to the air inside the balloon. The rubber surface became hot,
melted and the balloon exploded.

The blue colored balloon had water and air inside it. Water has a thermal conductivity of
0.6 W•K-1•m-1 .The water was able to absorb the heat on the balloon surface when it was
held over the candle. The temperature of the balloon surface was kept low and it did not
explode.

Also consider

Try a different experiment by placing the inflated balloon in hot water and cold water to
observe the changes.

References

Thermal conductivity - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermal_conductivity

What is thermal conduction? -http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-thermal-conduction.htm