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Balloon-powered race car

Experiments

During this home activity, you are going to design and, of course, test a balloon-powered car!

The force created when the air is squeezed out of the balloon ensures that your homemade car zooms right off!

Step by step

Requirements

  • plastic bottle

  • 3 straws

  • 4 identical plastic caps

  • 2 skewers (have an adult remove the sharp points)

  • balloon

  • Tape

 

And some tools:

  • ruler (at least 10 centimeters)

  • hammer

  • nail

  • pricking mat

  • pricking pen

  • awl

  • Scissors

 

And someone who can help you if necessary.

What do you need to do?

  1. Cut off the bendable part of 2 straws, so that you have 10 cm left.

  2. Take the 4 caps and place them on a pricking mat. Use a hammer and nail to punch a hole in the center of each cap.

  3. Take the skewers and slide each one through a straw.

  4. Push the caps onto the ends of the skewers until they reach the straws. The skewer should stick out slightly on both sides.

  5. Tape the straws to the bottom of the bottle.

  6. Take a new straw and cut off the bendable part. Use tape to attach a balloon to one end of the straw (the balloon must be inflated through the straw).

  7. Use a pricking pen to make a hole in the top of the bottle.

  8. Make the hole slightly larger with an awl. This is quite a task, so ask someone to help you if needed. Insert the open end of the straw through it.

  9. Push the end of the straw through the bottle opening and tape the straw to the top of the bottle with adhesive tape.

Your balloon car is now ready!
Blow up the balloon through the straw. Close the end of the straw with your finger so that no air can escape. Place the car on the ground and start racing!

Tips

  • Make a racetrack on the floor beforehand using masking tape and see which car goes the farthest.

  • Did the race with your car not go quite right? Don’t give up if it doesn’t work right away! You can learn something from every test and make your design even better!

  • Take another look at your car. Can you place the sticks straighter under the car? Or can you change something about the wheels? What does the car do when you blow the balloon up really large or just small?

 

Finished experimenting?

Then consider if you can use the parts of your car again! For example, you can do experiments with the balloon, the straws, and the plastic bottle.

Done playing?

Then put your things away in the correct trash can. The bottle, the balloon, the straws, and the caps can go with the plastic, metal, and drinks cartons (PMD). The stick can go with the general waste. Will you help recycle?
That way, we are all working together toward a cleaner and more livable planet Earth.

 

Ballon Raceauto 2

See also

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