Activity Abstract: This activity will help students to understand the concepts rate

of change and related rates as it applies to calculus.

Subject Relevance: Students in calculus will explore rate of change and related
rates in an experiment.

Procedures:
1. Students will be given the handout, pages 2-4.
2. Review the formulas related to volume of a sphere.
3. Students should be able to perform the activity in groups of 2-3 and the
teacher should facilitate.
4. As soon as students get the idea let them just go.
5. In the wrap up get students to see the relatedness between the variables.
6. NOTE TO TEACHER: It is a good idea to generate your own data prior to
using it in class.

Have fun! Students love this activity and learn much about related rates and
changes in the related variables.

Balloon Puffs
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 Name

Date

Period

The idea is to puff consistently into a balloon the same amount of air at every
puff. Dont make them giant puffs or tiny ones just comfortable puffs. Small
enough that you can do about seven and the balloon wont look dangerously close to
popping.

After each puff, your partner measures the circumference of the balloon with a
measuring tape as you hold it. Then you put in another puff and so forth.

Your job is to figure out as much as you can about the rates of change in the
balloon as the radius is increasing.

Puff Circumference Radius Volume Surface Circum. Radius Volume Surf.

Area Area
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

1. What is the average rate of change in the volume over the puffs?

2. Where is the rate increasing the fastest?

3. What relationship exists between the Volume and the radius?

Balloon Puffs
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 4. What rate is the radius changing the smallest amount?

Graphically:
Graph the puff vs. Volume on the grid.
Graph the puff vs. Circumference on the next grid.
Graph the puff vs. Radius on the third grid.
Graph the puff vs. Surface Area on the fourth grid.

Balloon Puffs
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5. Is there a visual relationship between the four graphs? If there is what is
it?

6. Describe each variable involved in this experiment and how it is related to

the other variables in the experiment.

Balloon Puffs
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mathiscool_chick@yahoo.com
Page 4 of 7
Name

Date

Period

The idea is to puff consistently into a balloon the same amount of air at every
puff. Dont make them giant puffs or tiny ones just comfortable puffs. Small
enough that you can do about seven and the balloon wont look dangerously close to
popping.

After each puff, your partner measures the minor diameter and the major
diameter of the balloon with a measuring tape as you hold it. Then you put in
another puff and so forth.

Your job is to figure out as much as you can about the rates of change in the
balloon as the major and minor diameters are increasing.

3 Where a is the minor radius and b is major radius.

Sur. Area = ( a + b ) ab
2 We are assuming that two of the radii are the same.
Volume = a b
2

Puff Minor Major Volume Surface Minor Major Vol. Surf.

Diam. Diam. Area Radius Radius Area
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

Balloon Puffs
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 5. What is the average rate of change in the volume over the puffs?

6. Where is the rate increasing the fastest?

7. What relationship exists between the Volume and the radius?

8. What rate is the radius changing the smallest amount?

Graphically:
Graph the puff vs. Volume on the grid.
Graph the puff vs. Major Radius on the next grid.
Graph the puff vs. Minor Radius on the third grid.
Graph the puff vs. Surface Area on the fourth grid.

Balloon Puffs
http://mathiscool.org/t3.htm
mathiscool_chick@yahoo.com
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7. Is there a visual relationship between the five graphs? If there is what is
it?

8. Describe each variable involved in this experiment and how it is related to

the other variables in the experiment.

Balloon Puffs
http://mathiscool.org/t3.htm
mathiscool_chick@yahoo.com
Page 7 of 7