Balloon Amplifier

This is a simple observation experiment you can do on your own.  No adults needed!

Your Materials For This Experiment:

A Balloon!

Now Follow These Steps:

First: Blow Up the Balloon

Finally: Hold the balloon close to your ear while you tap lightly on the other side.

Here's what's happening:

Even though you are only tapping lightly on the balloon your ears hear the sound amplified. When you blew up the balloon the force of the latex balloon skin squeeze the air molecules inside closer to each other. Because the air molecules inside the balloon are closer together, they become a better conductor of sound waves than the much less compressed air around you.