FIRE RESISTANT BALLOONS

____________________________
An Investigatory Project Proposal
Presented to
The University of San Carlos
Basic Education Department South Campus
Cebu City, Philippines
____________________________

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for

Science X (Physics)
____________________________

By:
# 14 STEPHEN JOHN GALEON
#24 ACHILLES ANDREW QUEROUZ
# 34 ALYSSA LOUISE LEIGH VALLE

To:
Ms. Cherry Ann C. Tuacao

10 Father Joseph JaschickTABLE OF CONTENTS

I.

Rationale

Statement of the Problem

III.

Significance of Study

IV.

Review of Related Literature

Materials and Methods

VI.

References

VII.

Time Table

Budgetary Requirements

II.

V.

VIII.

I.

Rationale
In this investigatory project, the researchers aim to accomplish their goal, to gain further

knowledge of thermal energy, heat transfer and thermal conduction.

This study will greatly benefit the community and probably the world if our experiment
would show promising results. Results in this experiment, would hopefully be useful in
prevention and controlling fires and other casualties concerning thermal energy.
We chose this experiment in order to know how water can be a good insulator. In this
experiment, we would have an idea how water helps preventing fire to burn down things. In this
case we will test if the water inside the balloon can help insulate the balloon.

II.

Statement of the Problem

This study is primarily conducted to finding further knowledge about thermal conduction.
This study seeks answer to the following questions:

1. What would be the effect if a balloon was settled in too much heat?
a. How is thermal energy transferred to the balloon?
b. What makes the balloon burst and become shriveled?
2. What alteration can be made to avoid the balloon from bursting?
a. How can the balloon not burst from the given alteration

III.

Significance of the Study

This investigatory project may be used as a basis in the study of thermal energy and

thermal conduction. If the study is affirmed by a positive result, then it will be a helpful
complement to people who needs these benefits. Additionally, the result of the study will be
beneficial to the following groups of people:

Children. Childhood is where the foundation of knowledge begins to grow because in this
stage we are curious of our surroundings and question the cause of different phenomena. The
concepts in this study may hopefully answer some of their questions in the field of
thermodynamics.

Students. School life has different impacts on different people. But school is where
knowledge is nourished and developed more with the aid of our teachers and professors. This
study may particularly assist students in their report about thermodynamics. Also,

Physicists. By decongesting the coverage, they could gather some of our data and base
from what we have studied. They could also try experimenting and trying our recommendations.
They could come up with a new idea of thermodynamics from our experimentation.

Teachers. May this experiment guide teachers in accurately disseminate information to

interested students about thermal energy. This study might show light to some puzzled teachers
who need more data

IV.

Review of Related Literature

Thermal conduction is the ability of a medium to allow heat to be conducted through
it. The heat will always travels from a hotter spot to a cooler spot. For example, if one
end of a metal rod is heated up, the heat will gradually travel to the other end until the
entire rod becomes hot. Thermal conduction exists in solids, liquids and gasses.

The conduction of heat through a medium happens because the particles in the
medium vibrate or move faster when heat is applied to it. This vibration or movement
of the particles will start at the point where the heat originates. As the particle energy
and vibration increase, they will collide with the neighboring particles and
transfer thermal energy to them. When this happens the temperature of the original
particle will drop and the temperature of the neighboring particle will increase.
However the original particle will replenish the energy again from the heat source.
This process will continue until the entire medium reaches thermal equilibrium where
the

temperature

is

the

same

everywhere

in

the

medium.

Thermal conduction can also take place between different mediums that are at
different temperatures. An example is boiling water in a metal pot. The stove is the
source of the heat. The fire from the stove will heat up the metal pot. As the
temperature of the pot increases and its particles start to vibrate more quickly, the heat
is transferred to the water in the pot and the water molecules increase their movement
and collisions with other water molecules. This will go on until the water in the pot
begins to boil.
5

V. Materials and Methods

The materials required for this experiment:
-

1 matchbox

1 candle

1 yellow colored balloon

1 blue colored balloon

Half a cup of water

Method
1.

For this experiment, the independent variable is whether the balloon is filled with water or

not. The dependent variable is what happens to the balloon when it is placed above the lit candle.
This is determined by observing the balloon. The constants (control variables) are how much the
balloon is inflated and the amount of water in the balloon.
2.

Inflate the yellow colored balloon and tie it up.

3.

Pour half a cup of water into the blue colored balloon before inflating it to the same size as

the yellow color balloon and tie it up.

4.

Light up the candle. Be careful when using match sticks to avoid causing fires, or burning

yourself.

VI.

5.

Hold the yellow colored balloon on top of the lit candle. Observe and record what happens.

6.

Hold the blue colored balloon on top of the lit candle. Observe and record what happens.

References

Thermal conductivity http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermal_conductivity

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-thermal-conduction.htm
VII.

Timetable

Objective
Submission of Proposal
Experimentation
Submission of Final Output
VIII.

Expected Date of Completion

11/17/14

Date of Completion
11/20/14

Budgetary Requirements

Materials and supplies:

1 matchbox

= 3 php

1 candle

= 10 php

1 yellow colored balloon

= 5 php

1 blue colored balloon

= 5 php

Half a cup of water

= 1 php

Communication: Facebook
Operating Expenses:
Travel and transportation 50php
Material Reproduction
Computerization -