"Float The Mouse"
(Levitation
in air)
I am interested in anti-gravity and levitation. I decided to
experiment with balloons and lifting. I have a small mouse I wanted to
float in the air and wanted to see if I could accurately calculate the
minimum amount of gas and balloons needed to lift the mouse.
Hypothesis:
Through research and analytical calculations I can accurately predict the minimum amount of gas needed to "float my mouse".
Analytical vs. Empirical methods
I learned that analytical means to rely on equations and calculations rather than trial and error, while empirical
means to obtain a solution by observation or experiment. In this
project it would have been easy to use the empirical method. I could
just have taken my mouse to the store and started adding balloons to it
until it floated. However, I wanted to see if I could calculate the
number in advance. I then used empirical methods to prove or disprove
my hypothesis.
Methods:
- Research & learn about gases and lifting
- Study periodic table chart to pick gas for lifting
- Research and calculate lifting power of gas
- Measure weight of object to be lifted
- Calculate amount of gas needed to provide lift
- Determine weight of balloons and string and add to weight to be
lifted
- Determine amount of gas in balloons
- Predict number of balloons required
- Test lift power one balloon to validate prediction
- Attach balloons and lift mouse
- Resolve differences between analytical prediction and empirical results