Balloon Powered Race Cars
Skills and Concepts:
- Newton’s three laws of motion
- Effect of forces on objects (moving, stopping, changing directions)
- Use of simple materials and tools to build a vehicle
- Use the design, build and test process
Objectives:
- to identify important variables in the performance of the vehicle
- to design and build a balloon powered car for maximum speed and distance
- to test then modify the vehicle to improve its performance
Materials:
- balloons provided by the teacher
- joining materials such as tape, clips, string, or other provided by the teacher
- various common recycled materials (cardboard, tissue or shoe boxes, egg cartons, other Styrofoam, plastic containers)
- plastic straws, skewers
Rules:
- The car must be built out of common recyclable materials.
- The car can be powered by no more than 1 balloon.
- It must have at least three wheels. Wheels are defined as anything that is round, touches the ground, and goes around.
- No parts from kits may be used (LEGO, Kennex, etc)
Procedure:
- Assemble your car in class using approved materials.
- On testing day we will set up a course in the gym.
- Record distances and travel times.
- Awards will be given in the following categories.
- Farthest Distance Traveled (forward)
- Best Looking Car (student vote)
- Most Original Design (student vote)
- Fastest Car (distance and time)
