Balloon Pressure (Alan Kodel)
Author
Alan Kodel
Principle(s) Illustrated
Pressure=Force/Area
Relationship between surface area and pressure.
Force distribution
Standards
NGSS Cross Cutting Concepts- Scale, Proportion and Quantity
Core Ideas PS 2 Motion and Stability - Forces and Interactions
Questioning Script
Prior knowledge & experience:
Students may have already been introduced to the equation for pressure but it is not mandatory.
Root question:
Why does the balloon pop when pressed against a single pin but does not pop when pressed against several pins?
How else can this concept be applied to other real life scenarios?
Target response:
Consider the equation Pressure=Force/Area. Assuming the Force applied to both balloons is the same, the increased number of pins will increase the surface area and distribute the force. This will result in a decrease in pressure on the balloon pressed against more pins.
Common Misconceptions:
More sharp pins will cause the balloon to pop with less force being applied.
Photographs and Movies
References
Variation of this experiment.
https://www.stevespanglerscience.com/lab/experiments/bed-of-nails-physics-lesson/