Category: Scout Meeting

Jet Engine Balloon

Materials you will need:

• Scotch Tape
• Drinking Straw
• A Balloon (preferably long)
• Nylon String at least 10 feet long
• Trees, Poles or chairs (to tie the string to)

Steps:

1.  Take one end of the string and tie it to a tree or a post.
2.  Take the straw and thread it onto the other end of the string.
3.  Tie the other end of sting to the second tree or post.
4.  Make sure that the string is tight.
5.  Move the straw to one end of the string
6.  Blow up the balloon and hold the opening so that the air does not escape.
7.  Place the mouth of the balloon so that it is pointing toward the closest tree or post.
8.  Make sure that the balloon is parallel to the string/straw.  Place two pieces of tape over the straw and balloon making sure that the balloon is attached securely.
9.  Release the balloon.

The balloon and straw take off across the string until the balloon is completely deflated.  When the balloon is released the compressed air rushes out into space and the reaction is to drive the balloon forward like a rocket.

Sir Isaac Newton’s Third Law, “For every action (force), there is an equal and opposite re-action.

This is a good outside experiment. Also would be great to set up 2 or more and race!. via

Too Easy Melted Bead Suncatchers

Reblogged from craftster.com: “Melted the beads (400 degrees for about 20 minutes) in a metal cake pan and some ceramic dishes. Drilled a hole in them and strung them on fishing line.” “I used very cheap beads!! It was a big bag of beads from Michaels that I spent about four dollars on. For the blue and green catchers , I sorted the beads out. I had to buy a clear bag of beads too because there were no clear beads in the first bag I bought. Most importantly…make one thin layer of beads at the bottom of the pan. After the beads cool, you can just turn the pan upside down and the suncatcher falls right out…  I was able to melt these beads in cake pans,ceramic carafes and coffee mugs. I also did a group in a muffin pan…..that worked really well.”

Doitandhow Update: For the suncatcher, we tried clear, colored transluscent and opaque pony beads. The colored transluscent beads give prettier results. You can also use other size pans. I used a mini muffin pan and made cute little discs of colors. Once cool, they just pop right out! WARNING: melting plastic is stinky, if not toxic (?) so make sure your kitchen is well ventilated.