AboutRalph Salier-Hellendag Expertise Science Fair Judge for many years and experience with robotics, biology, chemistry, industrial processes, metalurgy and metal forming.
Experience Science Fair Judge for many years and have helped several students get to state level competition. Most recently 2 of my students received state level awards and one went on to the nationals in Washington DC.
Education/Credentials BA Archaeology - Anthropology
MA Business Anthropology
Question Hi!
I'm helping my daughter and her friend with a science project for school. They are wanting to measure different carbonation levels of different types of soda (i.e. diet, store brand, etc.) by using the balloon method that has been described on your site. I also read one of your responses regarding how to take a measurement of each of the carbonation levels by using water displacement of the blown up balloon. My question is: How should this water displacement measure be reported? Should we just report the amount of water added to the bucket or is there an appropriate measure for this? Thanks!
Stacey
Answer Hi Stacey,
This is a question of volume. When you do a displacement, the amount being displaced is equal to the volume in the balloon. Thus, fill a basin with a known amount of water (cups, pints, gallons which ever is the easiest measure you have)Once "filled" mark the basin with a "fill mark" ( a sharpe pen works well under water or an indeleble marker used for marking clothing).
Then submerge the balloon being carefull not to include your fingers and hands under water since you would also then be measuring the displacement of your hand or fingers. Then mark the basin again once the balloon is just barely submerged (thin film of water on the top). Remove the balloon.
Now you have a begining point and an end point. Carefully using a measured container fill the basin to the second mark. Keep carful records of how much you add to the basin as this will tell you the volume of the balloon's displacement.
Then convert this to metric since most science projects need to be in metrics.
