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Let's use the hot sunlight to do a science experiment! Does color effect how much heat energy is absorbed from the sun? Can we pop a balloon using only heat energy?

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Materials:

- Clear Balloon

- Black Balloon

- Magnifying Glass

- A Sunny Day

You may need a partner's help with this activity.

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‍Procedure:

1. Blow up the clear balloon and pinch the end closed. Do not tie it closed yet.

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2. Push the black balloon inside the clear one and leave a little out so it can be blown up.

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3. Blow up the black balloon to about half the size of the clear balloon. Tie the black balloon closed and push it rest of the way into the clear balloon.

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4. Once the inflated black balloon is inside the clear balloon, tie the clear balloon closed.

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5. Take the balloons outside and use the magnifying glass to focus sunlight on the black balloon. Watch what happens!

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‍What's Happening?

The black balloon popped! But the clear balloon didn’t. The sun’s rays are a combination of light and heat energy. These rays are already strong and we can feel the heat from the sun on the sidewalk, playground equipment, and seeing snow melt, but when they are focused into one spot, they are even stronger.

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The color black absorbs both light and heat energy instead of reflecting it back off. Since the energy from the sun’s rays is so strong, the black balloon begins to break down and then pops.

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The clear balloon is like a glass window. If you are standing next to a window and the sun is shining through it, you can feel the heat coming through. Just like the window, most of the light and heat energy are able to pass through the clear balloon.