Brain Teasers
Duffus Burns Boffo
Duffus had hired Boffo the Clown for his nephew's birthday party. Boffo was famous for his helium balloon animals. Boffo was running late and decided to pre-fill the balloons he would need for the party. To his horror, the helium tank was empty. Frantically, Boffo rushed to the local supplier for more. Boffo just made the party in time and began working his balloon magic. Tying the balloon creations to the kids was a hit, but Boffo soon ran out of string. Boffo, thinking quickly, rubbed the balloons on his green polyester wig to create a static charge, which made the balloons stick to the kids' shirts and Boffo's head. Duffus, wanting to get in on the fun, snuck up on Boffo, now with a dozen balloons stuck to his head. Duffus figured he'd just pop one of the balloons, scare Boffo, and get some laughs from the rowdy youngsters. To his amazement, it exploded in a ball of flames, igniting the other balloons, the wig, and Boffo himself as the kids cheered at the spectacle. Fortunately, Duffus had a garden hose nearby, and jumped to Boffo's rescue. Although things did work out for Boffo in the end, he's now known in Vegas as Blaze the Exploding Wonder. What happened to cause the balloons to go up in flames in the first place?
Hint
Think Hindenburg blimp.Answer
Boffo unknowingly received a tank of hydrogen instead of helium. Both are lighter than air and will work to make balloons float. But unlike helium, hydrogen is flammable. Boffo used static electricity to get the balloons to stick to his head. When Duffus popped one, it created a static electric spark and ignited the hydrogen.Hide Hint Show Hint Hide Answer Show Answer
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Comments
Not a bad story but more of a science teaser really than a situation.
Ditto on jimbo. good one otherwise
Couldn't Happen - Hydrogen tanks are clearly marked FLAMMABLE and DANGER!! - after what happened to the Hindenburg Hrdrogen is treated with respect. I also agree - this is a science teaser, not a situation.
Poor Boffo......
unklemyke, I've seen two of your comments on teasers, and both of them are very rude. People put their effort into teasers, you wouldn't know that, because you haven't made one! Anyway, I thought it was a good teaser!
Good teaser! I wouldn't have ever guessed it though....
Hard but very good!
Crystalstar... I don't think you have a very good idea about what's rude and what isn't. The guy is absolutely right. It couldn't happen. Oxygen would explode though.
shoulda been a science teaser
I agree with jimbo. This could go in the Science Teaser's section. Good teaser, though! Keep it up!
This was easy but interesting i have to agree with unklemkye this is a very unlikely situation.
But...but.....hydrogen doesn't explode in flames......you can't actually see it burn...
Hey! This is like the third one I got . I'm so Happy! Okay , I know I don't have a Life.
guessed it wasn't helium, but yeah, it should be in science. or perhaps trivia...
it was really more of something to do with science although i did enjoy reading it.
it was really more of something to do with science although i did enjoy reading it.
i knew it had sumthin to do with static electricity, but i didn't no what.
Thank God that this would be a very hard mistake to make!! Good one though
I'm not sticking balloons to my head anymore
i got it without realizing i just assumed he didnt get helium didnt think i was right!!!lol
WHO CARES!!!!!!!!Crystal star is right UNKLEMYKE OR WUTEVR WAS RUDE ITS A PUZZLE FOR FUN!!!!!!!!!UR NOT SUPPOSED TO TAKE EVRY THING INTO ALLITERATION YOUR SUPPOSED TO USE THE FACTS THE READING GIVES U TO SOLVE IT!
WHO CARES!!!!!!!!Crystal star is right UNKLEMYKE OR WUTEVR WAS RUDE ITS A PUZZLE FOR FUN!!!!!!!!!UR NOT SUPPOSED TO TAKE EVRY THING INTO ALLITERATION YOUR SUPPOSED TO USE THE FACTS THE READING GIVES U TO SOLVE IT!
didnt mean to say that twice
um i thought something of the static electricity butnot the rest. great quiz!
i knew he received the incorrect chemical but i could not put my finger on which one it was... whatever...it was fun anyhow
Anyone who knows the history of hydrogen vs. helium in dirigibles, or anyone who knows anything about the periodic table probably could have figured this out.
I disagree that this is not situational... putting it in "science" would have been a dead giveaway as to the solution. Besides, just because the solution to a situational mystery involves science doesn't mean it is not situational.
Fun mystery, even if a bit easy
I disagree that this is not situational... putting it in "science" would have been a dead giveaway as to the solution. Besides, just because the solution to a situational mystery involves science doesn't mean it is not situational.
Fun mystery, even if a bit easy
I found this one searching for teasers with the word "Duffus"(I love Duffus teasers). As soon as I saw the title, Iwas thinking "oooooooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhh Lord..." Great Teaser!!!
I really think this should go in science, but still.... it was GOOD!!!
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