Hi cb333,
It looks like the Science Buddies staff rewrote the project--which is understandably frustrating when you are in the middle of it! I was able to access a cached version of the project idea (I did a Google search for "archived versions of webpages" and then used
http://www.cachedpages.com/). I've copied the text the procedure here; I'm not sure how long this particular version of the page will stay cached. Unfortunately, the data table doesn't copy well. I'm also asking the Science Buddies staff about this - hopefully they will post the full "old" version.
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Experimental Procedure
1. Fill 10 water balloons with the same amount of water. Use a scale to confirm that the water balloons all weigh the same amount, plus or minus 10 percent. For example, if your first balloon weighs 5 ounces (oz) then the rest of the balloons should weigh between 4.5 and 5.5 oz.
2. Find a location that has a large, clean concrete area with steps that you can climb for different heights. Or you can use a ladder on a large clean concrete area. If you use a ladder, make sure that you have someone holding the ladder for safety.
3. Start by standing on the ground. Have your helper hand you a water-filled balloon. Hold the balloon straight out in front of you.
4. Now have your helper measure the distance of the balloon from the ground with the tape measure. Have your helper record this data in your lab notebook, using a data table similar to the one below.
5. Have your helper use the stopwatch to time how long it takes for the balloon to fall and spatter. Release the balloon and observe the spatter that it makes on the concrete. Note the time in your lab notebook. If the balloon doesn't break at this distance go to step 7 and increase your starting distance.
a. Measure the size of the initial impact. Is it a circular shape or an oblong shape? Is the impact longer in one direction than in another? Note this data in your lab notebook.
b. Measure the length from the center of the initial impact to the outermost spatter or drop of water. Note this data in your lab notebook.
6. Repeat step 5 two more times. Note the data in your lab notebook.
7. Increase your distance from the ground and then repeat steps 5 and 6. Increase the distance at least two times beyond the starting distance. There should be three trials for each distance. Record all data in your lab notebook. Each time that you step up a stair, have your helper measure the height of that one stair. Add the height of the stair to the previous distance of the balloon from the ground to calculate the new distance of the balloon from the ground.
8. Plot the data that you collected.
a. Plot the size of the initial impact (y-axis) versus initial distance from the ground (x-axis).
b. Plot the length from the center of the initial impact to the outermost spatter (y-axis) versus distance from the ground (x-axis).
c. Optional: use physics to calculate the balloon's velocity just before it hit the ground (hint: you can do this by assuming the balloon had a constant acceleration due to gravity). Make new plots with impact velocity on the x-axis.