ASTR340

The Helium-balloon experiment

(3 extra credit points – due 8^th October 2002)

Your Name :

Try the following experiment. Obtain a helium-filled balloon tied to a string (you can often pick these balloons up from chain-restaurants like Chevy’s etc). Now, holding the balloon by its string, get a friend to drive you around in a car. Watch the balloon very carefully as the car accelerates, decelerates and turns corners. How does it behave? Does its behavior surprise you? In the space below, write a few notes describing what you see.