Liquid Nitrogen & Balloon Experiment

What happens when you put balloons in liquid nitrogen? In this educational video, Museum Educator Kate demonstrates the physics of this super cold science experiment. Because liquid nitrogen boils at -321 degrees Fahrenheit, it is very effective at cooling things down quickly. When inflated balloons are placed inside the liquid nitrogen, the air molecules inside the balloon cool down and slow down. The molecules of the liquid nitrogen push in against the balloon, causing them to deflate without popping. When the balloons are removed from the liquid nitrogen, the molecules inside them will start moving more again as they warm up. This means they will push against the insides of the balloon, causing them to re-inflate!