How It Works

Balloons are made of a thin sheet of a rubber called latex, which is made of long chain-like molecules tangled together.

The strands can be stretched, but when let go, the rubber returns to its original shape.

This type of material is called an elastomer.

When you push the needle slowly through, the strands move apart.

But if you push the needle through hard and fast, the network of strands will break and the air inside the rubber balloon will rush out and the balloon explodes.

> Tidget's Magic Balloons

> What You'll Need

> How You Do It

> How It Works

What's on

more

24 February 2012

Astrobiology - the hunt for alien life [+]

News

more

17 January 2012

Smart pills coming soon [+]

Experiments

more

15 June 2009

Robo-Bob's Erupting Volcano [+]