Program Information

What makes popcorn pop?

NASA Kids Science News Network™ is a news-style standards-based program that uses the Web, animation, and video to introduce science, technology, engineering, math, and NASA concepts. NASA's KSNN™ uses animated characters (grades K-2) and Web and video technology (grades 3-5) to explain everyday phenomena of our world, correct misconceptions, and answer frequently asked questions.

Transcript

Hi, I'm Bianca Baker with
more science news you can use.

Why does a kernel of popcorn
go from this to this?

Hmm, why is that?

(Bianca)
Heat energy makes things expand
and change from one form
to another
like turning water into steam.

Well, that's what happens
to popcorn too.

Heat goes past this hard shell
into the middle of the kernel,
which contains
a little bit of water.

As the water gets hot,
it changes into steam
and expands inside the kernel
until there's no more room
and the kernel explodes,
turning into this.

And it's ever so good.

Well, until next time,
I'm Bianca Baker with
more science news you can use.

Virginia Standards