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Hi Alissa,

Pete Smith, one of our figure it out guys thinks that the drying paper 
mache cooled the system down enough for the air in the cup (and the 
balloon) to contract and suck the balloon into the cup.  The one with 
the knot down fit closely enough to seal where the one with the knot up 
did not.

Rob Callahan
Superior Exhibits


Daniels, Alissa wrote:

>ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
>Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
>*****************************************************************************
>
>OK, my scienctific friends, wrap your heads around this little accidental experiment.
>
>One of our art educators is creating models of hot air balloons. He covered two regular latex balloons in papier mache. He set them both on plastic cups to dry. The cups were filled about half way with room temperature water. He placed one balloon with the narrower, tied end in the cup, and placed the other with the opposite (wider) end down on the cup.
>
>This morning, the second balloon had dried just fine. The first balloon (with the knot end down) had something a little unexpected. The balloon had come loose from the surrounding papier mache and had been "sucked down" into the cup. The balloon is still inflated and tied, the cup is quite tight around it, and the top part of it is still inside the hardened papier mache. 
>
>So what happened? I feel like it has something to do with air pressure but I'm not sure what. Stretch those brains and help us solve this little mystery.
>
>thanks!
>AD
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>Alissa Daniels, Science Program Manager
>Boston Children's Museum
>617-426-6500 x342
>www.BostonChildrensMuseum.org
>The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not "Eureka!" (I found it!) but "That's funny..."   --Isaac Asimov 
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
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