How many does it take?
Every experiment from past It Took puzzles, with the answer and how it was worked out. 45 so far, and a few more every day.
Today’s experiments are not listed here until they are over. Play them first.
🎈 Balloons
- How many helium balloons does it take to lift a 250-page paperback? About 28.
- How many helium balloons does it take to lift a hedgehog? About 80.
- How many helium balloons does it take to lift a pineapple? About 150.
- How many helium balloons does it take to lift a Chihuahua? About 200.
- How many helium balloons does it take to lift an electric guitar? About 360.
- How many helium balloons does it take to lift a red fox? About 650.
- How many helium balloons does it take to lift a gold bar? About 1,200.
- How many helium balloons does it take to lift an elephant? About 600,000.
🔋 AA batteries
- How many AA batteries does it take to fully charge a smartphone? About 5.
- How many AA batteries does it take to make one cup of tea? About 8.
- How many AA batteries does it take to fully charge a laptop? About 22.
- How many AA batteries does it take to boil a liter of water? About 31.
- How many AA batteries does it take to keep an LED bulb on for a day? About 64.
- How many AA batteries does it take to watch 3 hours of TV? About 100.
- How many AA batteries does it take to take an 8-minute electric shower? About 330.
- How many AA batteries does it take to run a fridge for a day? About 400.
- How many AA batteries does it take to charge a phone every day for a year? About 1,600.
🚴 Pedal power
- How many people pedaling bikes does it take to power a toaster? About 10.
- How many people pedaling bikes does it take to power an average US home? About 12.
- How many people pedaling bikes does it take to power a washing machine heating water? About 20.
- How many people pedaling bikes does it take to power an electric kettle? About 20.
- How many people pedaling bikes does it take to power an electric car cruising on the highway? About 200.
- How many people pedaling bikes does it take to power an electric car fast charger? About 1,500.
🍬 Sugar cubes
- How many sugar cubes' worth of sugar is in a glazed donut? About 3.
- How many sugar cubes' worth of sugar is in a tablespoon of honey? About 4.
- How many sugar cubes' worth of sugar is in a banana? About 4.
- How many sugar cubes' worth of sugar is in a glass of orange juice? About 5.
- How many sugar cubes' worth of sugar is in a glass of chocolate milk? About 6.
- How many sugar cubes' worth of sugar is in a soft-serve cone? About 6.
- How many sugar cubes' worth of sugar is in a Snickers bar? About 7.
- How many sugar cubes' worth of sugar is in a can of cola? About 10.
🏃 Running fuel
- How many bananas does it take to fuel a 5 km run? About 3.
- How many Big Macs does it take to fuel a marathon? About 5.
- How many Oreos does it take to fuel a 5 km run? About 7.
- How many glazed donuts does it take to fuel a marathon? About 16.
- How many glasses of milk does it take to fuel a marathon? About 20.
- How many bananas does it take to fuel a marathon? About 28.
- How many M&M's does it take to fuel a marathon? About 740.
🧊 Ice cubes
- How many ice cubes does it take to cool a glass of lemonade from 25°C to 5°C? About 3.
- How many ice cubes does it take to cool a mug of hot chocolate from 80°C to 50°C? About 3.
- How many ice cubes does it take to cool a cup of tea from 90°C to 60°C? About 3.
- How many ice cubes does it take to cool a pot of pasta water from 100°C to 40°C? About 80.
- How many ice cubes does it take to cool a hot bath from 40°C to 30°C? About 550.
- How many ice cubes does it take to cool a kiddie pool from 30°C to 20°C? About 2,000.
- How many ice cubes does it take to cool a hot tub from 38°C to 28°C? About 5,600.