Blow up a large (11 inch) balloon a little less than fully inflated and tie off the opening. Take a new and sharp, wooden skewer and coat it with vegetable oil. Then, gently push it through the top of the balloon opposite the opening and then through the neck of the balloon. This is where the rubber is thickest. If done properly the balloon will not lose any air, even when you pull out the skewer. Toss the balloon into the air and quickly jab it with the skewer. It will pop.
Rubber Band.
Put a weight on a long, rubber band and suspend it. With a blow dryer set on hot at low speed heat the rubber band. The unexpected should happen--the rubber band will get shorter as it heats up due to the polymers cross-links.
Gum stretching
Chew a piece of bubble gum until it becomes soft and then roll it into a ball. Hold one end near the zero end of a meter or yard stick and pull it until it breaks. Write down the measurement you had just before it broke. Now chew it for another two minutes and repeat the measurement. Continue chewing, stretching and measuring until the length does not change. How does chewing affect the ability of gum to stretch?
Shrinking Plates
You will need some polystyrene disposable plates, a hair dryer, toluene (optional) from a hardware store, and a fire extinguisher. Heat the plate with a hair dryer for five to ten minutes or set in an oven at low temperature. The plate will shrink. Cut strips from the center of a new plate or disposable cup about 15 X 100 mm. You can easily bend the strips in half and they will return to their original shape when released. Next, bend them and then heat the middle of the strip for a couple of minutes. Let the strips cool off and then release them. The strip should remain folded. You can do the same thing with acetone or toluene without the heat--just paint the middle of the strip. Acetone can be used to glue the ends together so you can make interesting shapes and sculptures. You can also use acetone to change the pieces back into a plate by immersing the polystyrene in the acetone until they get sticky. Remove them from the acetone and then pressing between wet plates you will make a new polystyrene plate.
Can or cup holder
Get some insulating (polyurethane) foam from a hardware store. Put the can or cup in a plastic bag or grease it and then suspend it in a milk carton (box) or large can that is lined with a plastic bag. Use the foam in a well ventilated area according to directions and wear the plastic gloves. Allow the foam to cure for several hours before removing the holder from the plastic bags. For a high powered explanation see the Journal of Chemical Education; vol 67; No. 3; March 1990; pages 238-240. You may also want to get some Gro-Beasts from Accoutrements, Box 30811, Seattle, WA 98102 (206) 782-9450. Also from POLYED National Information Center at the Chemistry Department of the University of Wisconsin in Stevens Point, Wisconsin 54481 is a booklet called 'Fun With Polymers in the Elementary Classroom' that provides good explanations.
More experiments can be found at: www.psrc.usm.edu/macrog//demos/index.htm
Put a weight on a long, rubber band and suspend it. With a blow dryer set on hot at low speed heat the rubber band. The unexpected should happen--the rubber band will get shorter as it heats up due to the polymers cross-links.
Gum stretching
Chew a piece of bubble gum until it becomes soft and then roll it into a ball. Hold one end near the zero end of a meter or yard stick and pull it until it breaks. Write down the measurement you had just before it broke. Now chew it for another two minutes and repeat the measurement. Continue chewing, stretching and measuring until the length does not change. How does chewing affect the ability of gum to stretch?
Shrinking Plates
You will need some polystyrene disposable plates, a hair dryer, toluene (optional) from a hardware store, and a fire extinguisher. Heat the plate with a hair dryer for five to ten minutes or set in an oven at low temperature. The plate will shrink. Cut strips from the center of a new plate or disposable cup about 15 X 100 mm. You can easily bend the strips in half and they will return to their original shape when released. Next, bend them and then heat the middle of the strip for a couple of minutes. Let the strips cool off and then release them. The strip should remain folded. You can do the same thing with acetone or toluene without the heat--just paint the middle of the strip. Acetone can be used to glue the ends together so you can make interesting shapes and sculptures. You can also use acetone to change the pieces back into a plate by immersing the polystyrene in the acetone until they get sticky. Remove them from the acetone and then pressing between wet plates you will make a new polystyrene plate.
Can or cup holder
Get some insulating (polyurethane) foam from a hardware store. Put the can or cup in a plastic bag or grease it and then suspend it in a milk carton (box) or large can that is lined with a plastic bag. Use the foam in a well ventilated area according to directions and wear the plastic gloves. Allow the foam to cure for several hours before removing the holder from the plastic bags. For a high powered explanation see the Journal of Chemical Education; vol 67; No. 3; March 1990; pages 238-240. You may also want to get some Gro-Beasts from Accoutrements, Box 30811, Seattle, WA 98102 (206) 782-9450. Also from POLYED National Information Center at the Chemistry Department of the University of Wisconsin in Stevens Point, Wisconsin 54481 is a booklet called 'Fun With Polymers in the Elementary Classroom' that provides good explanations.
More experiments can be found at: www.psrc.usm.edu/macrog//demos/index.htm
Chew a piece of bubble gum until it becomes soft and then roll it into a ball. Hold one end near the zero end of a meter or yard stick and pull it until it breaks. Write down the measurement you had just before it broke. Now chew it for another two minutes and repeat the measurement. Continue chewing, stretching and measuring until the length does not change. How does chewing affect the ability of gum to stretch?
Shrinking Plates
You will need some polystyrene disposable plates, a hair dryer, toluene (optional) from a hardware store, and a fire extinguisher. Heat the plate with a hair dryer for five to ten minutes or set in an oven at low temperature. The plate will shrink. Cut strips from the center of a new plate or disposable cup about 15 X 100 mm. You can easily bend the strips in half and they will return to their original shape when released. Next, bend them and then heat the middle of the strip for a couple of minutes. Let the strips cool off and then release them. The strip should remain folded. You can do the same thing with acetone or toluene without the heat--just paint the middle of the strip. Acetone can be used to glue the ends together so you can make interesting shapes and sculptures. You can also use acetone to change the pieces back into a plate by immersing the polystyrene in the acetone until they get sticky. Remove them from the acetone and then pressing between wet plates you will make a new polystyrene plate.
Can or cup holder
Get some insulating (polyurethane) foam from a hardware store. Put the can or cup in a plastic bag or grease it and then suspend it in a milk carton (box) or large can that is lined with a plastic bag. Use the foam in a well ventilated area according to directions and wear the plastic gloves. Allow the foam to cure for several hours before removing the holder from the plastic bags. For a high powered explanation see the Journal of Chemical Education; vol 67; No. 3; March 1990; pages 238-240. You may also want to get some Gro-Beasts from Accoutrements, Box 30811, Seattle, WA 98102 (206) 782-9450. Also from POLYED National Information Center at the Chemistry Department of the University of Wisconsin in Stevens Point, Wisconsin 54481 is a booklet called 'Fun With Polymers in the Elementary Classroom' that provides good explanations.
More experiments can be found at: www.psrc.usm.edu/macrog//demos/index.htm
You will need some polystyrene disposable plates, a hair dryer, toluene (optional) from a hardware store, and a fire extinguisher. Heat the plate with a hair dryer for five to ten minutes or set in an oven at low temperature. The plate will shrink. Cut strips from the center of a new plate or disposable cup about 15 X 100 mm. You can easily bend the strips in half and they will return to their original shape when released. Next, bend them and then heat the middle of the strip for a couple of minutes. Let the strips cool off and then release them. The strip should remain folded. You can do the same thing with acetone or toluene without the heat--just paint the middle of the strip. Acetone can be used to glue the ends together so you can make interesting shapes and sculptures. You can also use acetone to change the pieces back into a plate by immersing the polystyrene in the acetone until they get sticky. Remove them from the acetone and then pressing between wet plates you will make a new polystyrene plate.
Can or cup holder
Get some insulating (polyurethane) foam from a hardware store. Put the can or cup in a plastic bag or grease it and then suspend it in a milk carton (box) or large can that is lined with a plastic bag. Use the foam in a well ventilated area according to directions and wear the plastic gloves. Allow the foam to cure for several hours before removing the holder from the plastic bags. For a high powered explanation see the Journal of Chemical Education; vol 67; No. 3; March 1990; pages 238-240. You may also want to get some Gro-Beasts from Accoutrements, Box 30811, Seattle, WA 98102 (206) 782-9450. Also from POLYED National Information Center at the Chemistry Department of the University of Wisconsin in Stevens Point, Wisconsin 54481 is a booklet called 'Fun With Polymers in the Elementary Classroom' that provides good explanations.
More experiments can be found at: www.psrc.usm.edu/macrog//demos/index.htm
Get some insulating (polyurethane) foam from a hardware store. Put the can or cup in a plastic bag or grease it and then suspend it in a milk carton (box) or large can that is lined with a plastic bag. Use the foam in a well ventilated area according to directions and wear the plastic gloves. Allow the foam to cure for several hours before removing the holder from the plastic bags. For a high powered explanation see the Journal of Chemical Education; vol 67; No. 3; March 1990; pages 238-240. You may also want to get some Gro-Beasts from Accoutrements, Box 30811, Seattle, WA 98102 (206) 782-9450. Also from POLYED National Information Center at the Chemistry Department of the University of Wisconsin in Stevens Point, Wisconsin 54481 is a booklet called 'Fun With Polymers in the Elementary Classroom' that provides good explanations.
More experiments can be found at: www.psrc.usm.edu/macrog//demos/index.htm