Why is a stream of water affected by a small latex balloon??

Question

I noticed that a low flow continuous stream of water from my kitchen faucet will deflect toward the balloon when I bring the balloon to where it is almost touching the stream.

If you try this adjust the flow for a fairly weak stream, laminar in nature. Blow up a small latex balloon to about six-seven inches in diameter, then bring it closer and closer to the stream and you will see the stream appear to follow the curvature of the balloon deviating from its original straight down path. Why does this happen?

Answer 1

The latex of the balloon picks up a static charge easily. Neither the latex nor the surrounding (dry) air conducts electricity, so the charge stays on the balloon. Rubbing the balloon against wool, hair, fur, or even your own skin will cause the balloon to pick up and retain a noticeable static charge. You can increase this effect greatly by rubbing the balloon on your hair before holding it near the stream of water.

Water is a molecule composed of both positive and negative charges. The positive charges are largely fixed with respect to the molecule as a whole, while the negative charges are free to move around a little within the molecule. However, even when a water molecule as a whole has the same number of positive and negative charges and is electrically neutral, the negative electrical charge nevertheless tends to collect around the oxygen atom on one side of the molecule, giving that end a slight negative charge, and leave the side with the hydrogen atoms slightly short of negative charge. This leaves the hydrogen atoms with a small net positive charge.

This permanent polarity of a water molecule has all sorts of physical and chemical consequences, one of which is that water is especially strongly attracted by electrostatic fields of either polarity. The stream of falling water is therefore pulled slightly toward the balloon.

Answer 2

Probably the electrical charge

Latex balloons can hold a static electrical charge and impure water is an excellent conductor. The water can have its flow altered by the static charge.

When you think about it the only way it could be would be electrical, there are no magnetic fields in latex, and the gravity of a balloon is almost small enough to ignore so it would have to be electrical.

Answer 3

Water is an ionic bond and, therefore has a small polarity. A ballon is an excellent storage point for static charge. The charge on the balloon is attracting one side of the water molecules causing the flow deviation.