Fluids > Surface Tension
DCS# 2A10.51

TWO BALLOONS

two balloons

APPARATUS
two identical balloons
202-14-D2
rubber tubing
101
paper clamp or hemostats
202

DESCRIPTION
Two identical balloons blown up to different sizes are connected by tubing and clamped.  When the clamp is removed, the smaller balloon contracts and blows up the larger.   The surface tension is greater for the smaller balloon, for which the rubber wall is thicker.  This is a variation of a similar demonstration with two soap bubbles.

NOTES
 
When preparing the balloons, the smaller one should be inflated so that the rubber is not stretched very much. 

REFERENCES

AJP 46(10),976
AJP 46(10),978