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[Phys-l] two questions



A few of my science colleagues were discussing some physics/chemistry
concepts.

1. Does anyone know how a Mexican jumping bean works? I believe there is
an insect larva inside that can jump. How, then, does the bean rise upward
since the forces are internal (and thus momentum is conserved)?

2) Water is a polar molecule, and a charged balloon will easily bend a
stream of water. Hexane is not a polar molecule, and chemistry demo books
say the stream should NOT bend. But if you put hexane in a buret, a
charged balloon DOES bend the stream. A charged balloon should attract any
neutral object, right? Something seems wrong here...

Can anyone assist me with these questions?