FUN FACTS
Latex Balloons are Earth-friendly!
Rubber trees grow in rain forests. Latex harvesting discourages deforestation because latex-producing trees are left intact. A tree can produce latex for up to 40 years.
Latex balloons come from rubber trees. Latex is collected by cutting the tree’s bark, then catching the latex in a cup. Latex harvesting doesn’t hurt the tree!
If the sound of a balloon popping startles you, you’re not alone. A bursting balloon actually creates a small sonic boom!
Once a hole is made in an inflated balloon, the quick release of the balloon’s energy, or air, causes the hole to grow at almost the speed of sound in rubber. Since this speed is much higher than the speed of sound in air, the hole in the balloon actually breaks the sound barrier, creating a sonic boom.
Helium-filled balloons float because helium is lighter than nitrogen and oxygen, the two components of air.
Balloons were invented in 1824,
the same year as the electromagnet.