Use simple materials, like a water bottle and bottle caps, to create a balloon powered car that moves on its own! It’s SO FUN to race the cars and to see how far they’ll go!
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How does a balloon car work?
A balloon powered car is a simple machine, involving wheels (bottle caps) and an axle (the skewers). When you blow into the straw, air goes into the balloon and inflates it, creating potential energy. When you let go of the straw, the air in the balloon is released, and it becomes kinetic energy (energy from motion), and the car begins to move! Normally when you let go of a balloon it flies all over the place, but the straw funnels the balloon’s energy in a specific direction, allowing the car to move in a straight line!
What Newton’s law is shown in a balloon car?
You can actually see all of Newton’s laws of motion represented in the balloon car! Newton’s 1st law says that an object in motion remains in motion until an outside force stops it. This is shown in the balloon car, because the balloon car keeps moving until friction stops it. You can also see Newton’s 2nd law (force equals mass times acceleration). Basically, the heavier an object is, the more force it will take for the object to accelerate (or move forward). The balloon car accelerates at a speed determined by the car’s mass (weight) and according to how much thrust the balloon gives it. (If you inflate the balloon more, the car will go further.) Finally, Newton’s 3rd law of motion states that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. When you blow up a balloon, the rubber expands, which increases the pressure inside it. Then when you let the air out of the balloon, the rubber contracts, and the air gets pushed out backwards. This is a reaction force that pushes the balloon forward, demonstrating Newton’s 3rd law.
What can I do with a balloon powered car?
There are a lot of fun things you can do with your balloon car:
Measure the distance your balloon car travels (does it go further when the balloon is inflated more?) Make two balloon cars and race them to see which goes the furthest (are the cars made of different materials? why does one go further?) Add weight to the balloon car (tape a coin on the top) and see what difference it makes
How to make balloon car go faster?
The lighter your balloon car is, the faster it will go. Try using different materials to make the balloon car to see what works the best! You can also minimize drag to make your balloon powered car go faster. Does the front of your car have any flat areas on it? A water bottle works well for this project because it has a curved shape that moves through the air more easily. Friction is also an important factor, because it makes the balloon car slower. Make sure your wheels turn well, and aren’t wobbly, or else they may slow down the car. Finally, you can improve the air speed as it releases from the balloon. First make sure that the balloon is airtight on the straw. Second, experiment with different straw diameters. Does a larger straw make the car go faster?
Why are my balloon cars driving crooked?
Your balloon car will drive crooked if the axles (skewers) are not facing perfectly forward. To make the balloon car drive straight, the straws holding the skewers must be parallel to one another and totally perpendicular to the water bottle. The axles will definitely start wobbling after the balloon car has crashed a few times. Try re-taping the straws to the bottom of the bottle with new tape, or even using hot glue to keep them in place.
How else can I make a balloon powered car?
You can use different objects to make your balloon car or put the car together in a different way. Try some of the following:
Use a piece of cardboard, a juice box, or a paper roll as the body of the car Glue the straws to the bottom of the balloon car. Does this reduce the friction and increase the speed? Attach a helium balloon to your car instead of a regular party balloon. It holds more air, so does this make the car faster or make it travel a longer distance? Use old CDs or buttons as the wheels of the balloon car
Re-purpose recycling objects to make a super fun balloon car. Creating your own car out of every day items is such a fun STEM activity!
Here’s even more STEM ideas:
Balloon Rocket
Popsicle Stick Catapult
How to Make a Lava Lamp
Tornado in a Jar
Our book Low-Mess Crafts for Kids is loaded with 72 fun and simple craft ideas for kids! The projects are fun, easy and most importantly low-mess, so the clean up is simple!
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