How Did the Monster Eat the Balloon?

Your monster didn't suck the balloon into the bottle.

The real force came from air pressure — the invisible push of air that's all around us.

When the matches burned inside the bottle, they heated the air. The warmer air expanded, and some escaped through the bottle's opening.

What Changed When the Balloon Covered the Bottle?

Once the balloon was placed over the opening, the bottle became sealed.

The flames soon went out and the air inside began to cool. As the gas cooled, its particles moved more slowly and the pressure inside the bottle dropped.

Now there was a pressure difference.

So What Pushed the Balloon Inside?

The air outside the bottle was still pushing with atmospheric pressure.

Because the pressure outside was greater than the pressure inside, the outside air pushed the balloon down through the opening.

It might look as though the bottle is sucking the balloon inside — but really, the atmosphere is pushing it in!

Why Did the Straw Release It?

Sliding the straw beside the balloon created a pathway for outside air to enter the bottle.

As air flowed in, the pressure inside and outside became more balanced.

Without the pressure difference holding it there, the balloon could be removed.

Scientists Say…

Air may be invisible, but it is still matter. It takes up space and its particles are constantly moving and colliding with surfaces.

Those collisions create pressure.

Whenever there is a difference in pressure, air tends to move from an area of higher pressure toward lower pressure.

Where Else Can You Spot Air Pressure?

The same invisible force appears in some surprising places.

[The Magic Water Cup] — where it holds an entire cup of water in place with nothing but a card [The Chatterbox Tube], where a single breath inflates an entire tube by letting the atmosphere do the work.