Preconditioning Balloons: Viscoelastic Biomedical Experiments

Each group needs:

• ring stand
• ring stand attachment, from which to hang the paper clips, balloon and spring scale, (for example, 3-inch diameter ring support for $5.20 at Home Training Tools)
• 2 large wire paper clips
• 1 water balloon (for example, 50 Water Balloon Bombs for $1.75 at Amazon.com)
• spring scale with 5 Newton capacity (for example, Tubular Spring Scale 500g/5N for $5 at Amazon.com)
• 1 measuring ruler (with metric units)
• computer with Microsoft Excel or similar software application
• Preconditioning Balloons Data Analysis Worksheet (PDF), one per person

To share with the entire class:

• roll of masking or scotch tape, to adhere ruler to ring stand (each group needs two, 2-inch pieces)
• (optional) computer and projector to show the Preconditioning Balloons Lab Steps (PPTX) PowerPoint file