RESULTS

These are the results I have received from my experiment:

		60°C - average overall temperature (cm)	18°C (cm)	-22°C (cm)
1st attempt	At 0 hrs	58 cm	58 cm	57 cm
	At ½ hr	60 cm	58 cm	57 cm
	At 1 hr	61 cm	58 cm	56 cm
	At 1 ½ hrs	60 cm	58 cm	56 cm
	At 2 hrs	60.5 cm	58 cm	56 cm
	At 2 ½ hrs	61 cm	58 cm	56 cm
	At 3 hrs	59 cm	58 cm	57 cm
2nd attempt	At 0 hrs	58 cm	58 cm	58 cm
	At ½ hr	59 cm	58 cm	58 cm
	At 1 hr	59 cm	58 cm	57 cm
	At 1 ½ hrs	60 cm	58 cm	56.5 cm
	At 2 hrs	61 cm	58 cm	56.5 cm
	At 2 ½ hrs	61 cm	58 cm	56 cm
	At 3 hrs	61 cm	58 cm	56 cm

Experiment - Take 2

So... I have forgotten to post this, but guess what? I have successfully finished experimenting. And I have reached this conclusion: the ideal condition for a balloon to preserve its original size and shape would be in room temperature conditions (approximately 18 degrees - 22 degrees), without contact with temperatures that are not normal weather temperatures.

BTW, my aim was to investigate whether extreme temperatures change a balloon's size, and if they do, what conditions are best for a balloon to maintain its size.

CHANGE OF METHOD =D

So to more suit the.... conditions of my experiment and where I am performing, I've changed the method a little:

This experiment was conducted using three different balloons of equal proportion, colour, and materials. Each balloon was pumped with a balloon pump until it was approximately 58 centimetres in diameter (the balloons did not all have to be exactly 58 cm, as only the difference in the diameters were being calculated). The first balloon was placed in a heated room at 65°C. The second balloon was placed in a freezer at -22°C. The third balloon was placed in room temperature conditions (approximately 18°C, as this experiment was performed in winter). The balloons were then left in their respective places for three hours. However, measurements of each of the balloon’s diameters were recorded at half hour intervals.

information on rubber

So I have been researching on the materials that balloons are made of. It's actually quite difficult to find information. But this is what I have so far - taken from: http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_ideas/ApMech_p026.shtml

All matter is made up of atoms, like carbon, or hydrogen, or oxygen. Atoms are linked together to form larger compounds called molecules. Some molecules are made by stringing together repeated subunits. Such molecules are called polymers. In some polymers, including many synthetic polymers in textiles and plastics, the subunits are identical. In other polymers, such as proteins manufactured inside cells, the subunits have a common 'backbone' structure, to which different chemical groups are attached.

Rubber is an example of a natural polymer. The chains of molecules in rubber have a natural elasticity: they can stretch when pulled. When the pulling force is removed, the elastic polymers in rubber spring back to their original length. A polymer with elastic properties like this is sometimes called an elastomer. The molecular chains of an elastomer basically act like springs.

Solid materials generally expand when heated and contract when cooled.

Experiment - Take 1

So I have attempted my experiment, and it somewhat failed. But I have learnt many mistakes from this experience, so I'm hoping to reattempt this failure, and hopefully come up with better results. Right now, I want to focus on changing my method A LOT and doing some more research... this time focusing on latex (which btw is REALLY hard to find information on). Did you know that balloons are made of natural rubber latex? Well neither did I.

PROGRESS AT LAST!

So guess what?? Yesterday, while at Woolies, Lucy has actually taken her very first step in her experiment. Lucy has bought the balloons! Yay. Now, she just has to start the experiment.... =]

METHOD! (3)

Sorry... I've decided to modify the end of my method a little.

Method

1. Obtain four balloons of equal size, shape and colour.
2. Inflate all balloons to approximately the same size (diameter of 40 cm). Use a measuring tape to ensure the diameter is approximately 40 cm for each balloon.
3. Place the first balloon in the refrigerator at 0°C and leave it for three hours. Make sure the refrigerator door remains shut for all three hours, to restrict the amount of warm air flowing inside.
4. Place the second balloon in a heated room at 25°C for three hours. Ensure that all doors and windows are shut at all times, to control the amount of cool air flowing inside the room.
5. Tie the third balloon to a fan and leave the fan on for three hours.
6. Place the fourth balloon in a bucket, with a constant stream of water above it, and leave this for three hours also.
7. Retrieve all the balloons from their respective places after three hours, and observe any changes i.e. difference in size, shape, rate of deflation.
8. Record all observations.
9. Repeat steps 1-8.
10. Obtain a white balloon and a black balloon.
11. Place both balloons under direct sunlight for ten hours. Ensure that they, as much as possible, stay in the sun, and do not become shaded.
12. Collect both balloons after ten hours and observe any changes i.e. size and shape.
13. Record all observations.
14. Repeat steps 10-13.