Screaming Balloon What would Halloween be without spooky sounds? email to friend
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What would Halloween be without spooky sounds? Here's an easy-to-do experiment using only a balloon and a hex nut from the hardware store. Be sure to buy enough supplies for all of your Halloween party guests because everyone is going to want a screaming balloon!

Materials

You’ll need good quality latex balloons (9" to 11" in size) and some 1/4" hex nuts from the hardware store.

Experiment
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Squeeze the hex nut through the mouth of the balloon. Make sure that the hex nut goes all the way into the balloon so that there is no danger of it being sucked out while blowing up the balloon. Blow up the balloon, but be careful not to over inflate the balloon as it will easily burst. Tie off the balloon and you’re ready to go. Grip the balloon at the stem end as you would a bowling ball. The neck of the balloon will be in your palm and your fingers and thumb will extend down the sides of the balloon. While holding the balloon, palm down, swirl it in a circular motion. The hex nut may bounce around at first, but it will soon begin to roll around the inside of the balloon. What is that sound? Could the balloon be screaming? Once the hex nut begins to spin, use your other hand to stabilize the balloon. Your hex nut should continue to spin for 10 seconds or more.

How does it work?

This is actually a 2 for 1 experiment - you’re learning about the science of inertia and sound. The hex nut circles inside the balloon due to centripetal force. Centripetal force is the inward force on a body that causes it to move in a circular path. The old concept of “centrifugal force” (an outward or center fleeing force) has been largely replaced by a more modernistic understanding of “centripetal force” (an inward or center seeking force). The sound is made by the sides of the hex nut vibrating against the inside wall of the balloon.

To prove this, repeat the experiment using a penny in place of the hex nut. While the penny spins beautifully inside the balloon, the “spooky” sound is gone. Experiment with different sizes of hex nuts or any other circular object whose edges might vibrate against the balloon and create a spooky sound. The Screaming Balloon makes for a great Halloween party give-away or a fun science experiment for teachers to do in class.

Additional Info

Learn how to make a spooky, screaming cup and uncover the secret of "stick and slide" to create a vibration. It's also fun to experiment with a sound hose to make other "spooky" Halloween Sounds.