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The Effects of Temperature on Balloons

3.8 based on 54 ratings

Updated on Dec 09, 2011

Grade Level: 6th to 8th; Type: Physics


This project determines how temperature affects the volume of gas in a balloon.

Research Questions:

How does heat affect the volume of gas in a balloon?

How does cold affect the volume of gas in a balloon?


  • 2 latex balloons
  • 2 empty 2-Liter soda bottles
  • Access to a refrigerator/freezer
  • Pan of hot water
  • Poster board
  • Markers
  • Pen or pencil
  • Lab notebook

Experimental Procedure

  1. Pull the neck of a balloon over the mouth of one of the bottles and place it in the refrigerator.
  2. Pull the neck of a balloon over the mouth of the second bottle and place the bottle into a pan of hot water. How is the heat affecting the balloon. Note your observations.
  3. Predict what you think the balloon in the refrigerator will look like. Then, open the refrigerator and take a look. What happened to the balloon? Did it match your prediction of what would happen?
  4. Now place both bottles in the freezer.
  5. After several minutes, check on the balloons. How did the extreme cold affect both? Record your observations.
  6. Use a piece of poster board and markers to sketch the balloons in each state in order to illustrate your results.

Terms/Concepts: temperature, volume of gas, density, matter

References: Science Projects About the Physics of Toys and Games, by Robert Gardner (Enslow Publishers, Inc., 2000).