Noisy Nut

Preparation: Very small hex nut, clear balloon

Performance: Put the hex nut in the balloon and blow balloon practically full. Using both hands, spin the balloon in circles until the hex nut spins with the movement of the balloon, generating a noise. When you stop spinning the balloon, the hex nut continues to spin. To help with the excitement, try and have a penny and a balloon for each the children.

Explanation: This is a display of centripetal force. Centripetal force is the inward force on a body that causes it to move in a circular path.

Spiritual Application: The balloon represents a person’s soul and the hex nut represents a person’s life. When the hex nut is spinning in the balloon, it represents the person that is alive. When you stop spinning the balloon, the hex nut dies down to a stop. This represents a dead person. But, the soul still exists! One day everyone will die, but our soul will live forever in one of two places: Heaven or Hell. Tell the children that they have a choice to either accept or reject Christ.