Name:______RaceDate:______Pd:_____

Balloon-Powered Car Project

Physical Science Benchmark B: In simple cases, describe the motion of objects and conceptually describe the

effects of forces on an object.

Science & Technology Benchmark B: Design a solution or product taking into account needs and constraints (e.g., cost, time, trade-offs, properties of materials, safety, and aesthetics).

Your Job:

You will be building a balloon-powered car as a culminating project to our force and motion unit. You will gather supplies from home, build the car in class, and then we will race and reflect on various properties of the cars. You may work with one partner if you choose.

Materials-you will need to supply the following parts for your car:

Body- something to hold the balloon that will power the car

Wheels-The wheels cannot be wheels from a toy car. They must be made out of something that was not originally meant to be used as wheels.

Axle - the straight stick that holds the wheels.

Bearing- Something for the axle to turn inside.

Pen Barrel or straw- to aid in blowing the balloon up if it cannot be reached by your mouth

Things to think about:

·  What kinds of materials will help my car go the fastest/farthest?

·  How should I attach the balloon to maximize air flow and acceleration?

·  How can I reduce the friction between the wheels and the floor and the wheels and the axles?

·  What shape will allow my car to go the fastest? (minimize air resistance)

Rules:

·  You will be given 2 balloons to power your car.

·  It must have at least three wheels. Wheels are defined as anything that is round and goes around.

·  The wheels can not be wheels from a toy car. They must be made out of something that was not originally meant to be used as wheels.

·  The car may not leave the ground.

·  The car must roll!

There will be possible awards for:

·  Best Looking Car

·  Fastest Car (in first 5 meters)

·  Farthest Distance Traveled

Google “Balloon Powered Car” to get ideas or visit the following website:http://www.mrg-online.com/car.htm

Some things you will need to do in class or at home:

1.  Sketch a plan of your car. Label all materials and parts.

2.  Fill out the scientific investigation on the back of this page.

3.  Assemble your car.

4.  Force Reflection

5.  Challenges and Difficulties

You will be graded on the following criteria:

_____/5 complete and on time

_____/5 followed the rules and used the appropriate material

_____/5 your car actually moved

____/10 labeled sketch of your car

____/20 'scientific method' section for your car

____/8 force reflection

____/6 challenges and difficulties

____/1 Creative Name for Car

____/10 Team work (each member’s score may be different)

Total Points ______/70

BPC Brainstorm

My strengths / Materials / Titles
Specialization / Design / Possible Team Members

Everts Middle School

Balloon Powered Car Project

Team Operating Agreement

Car Name: ______

Name / Phone / Email

What individual strengths does each team member bring to the group?

How will we divide work equitably?

Task / Task leader / Task / Task leader
Manager: ensures group members are on task to achieve race day deadline, ensures quality control and safety during construction process (reports directly to Mrs. McDanel) / Analyst: Taking the lead on collecting, analyzing, and graphing performance data
Graphic Designer: Creating labeled sketch of car / Problem Solver: Oversees challenges and technical difficulties
Scientific Specialist: specializes in identifying variables and writing of the scientific method / Force Specialist: Oversees Force Reflection (understands forces, force diagrams, and Newton’s Law’s

How will we resolve conflict efficiently and respectfully?

Potential Source of Conflict Among Team Members / Resolution Strategy

The steps we’ll take before someone can be fired: (management intervention must occur after team intervention and before firing)

*Anyone that gets fired from their group will have an alternate assignment from the teacher.

Team member 1 Signature ______

Team member 2 Signature ______

Team member 3 Signature ______

Management Signature: ______Date: ______

Labeled Sketch of Car

Scientific Method for Balloon Powered-Car Project

Our Car’s Name: ______

Question: How does the design of a balloon-powered car maximize its forward force while minimizing backward forces to achieve distance and speed?

Hypothesis & Identify Variables: (Hint: use the format “If the researcher ______, then ______will happen)

Materials & Tools:

Procedures:

Collect Data:

Trial # / Total Distance / Total Time / Speed
1
2
3

Step 5: Analyze Data:

Title: ______

Conclusions: (Hint: Restate hypothesis. Was it supported, why or why not? Back up statement with data.)

Force Reflection

1.  Identify the Law(s) of Motion that this project exemplifies. Explain how your balloon powered car is a good example of this law. (use a graphic ER to answer)

2.  Before the force is applied to the car to make it move, what were the forces acting on the car? Sketch the forces acting on the car at rest (use and label vectors).

3.  After the force is applied to the car to make it move, what are the forces acting on the car? Sketch the forces acting on the car in motion (use and label solid vectors to represent forces, and dotted vectors to represent the motion).

Challenges and Technical Difficulties:

List at least 3 problems that you encountered while building or testing and what you did to solve them. (1 point for each problem and solution)

Describe the problem. You may also use drawings. / Explain how you solved this problem.
Problem #1
Problem #2
Problem #3

Peer Assessment of Team Work

Car Name:______
Student Name: ______

Assessor Name: ______

Directions: Circle the bullet points that were true to the student during this project.

Below Standard (0-1) / At Standard (1-2) / Above Standard(2-3) / Score (3 points)
Responsibility
for Oneself / ·  is not prepared and ready to work with the team
·  does not do project tasks
·  does not complete tasks on time
·  does not use feedback from others to improve his/her work / ·  is prepared and ready to work with the team; is available for meetings and uses the team’s communication system
·  does what he or she is supposed to do without having to be reminded
·  completes tasks on time
·  uses feedback from others to improve his or her work / In addition to At Standard
criteria:
·  does more than what he or she has to do
·  asks for additional feedback to improve his or her work, beyond what everyone has been given
Helping
the Team / ·  does not help the team solve problems; may cause problems
·  does not share ideas with other team members
·  does not give useful feedback to others
·  does not offer to help others / ·  helps the team solve problems, manage conflicts, and stay focused and organized
·  shares ideas that help the team improve its work
·  gives useful feedback (specific and supportive) to others so they can improve their work
·  offers to help others do their work if they need it / In addition to At Standard
criteria:
·  steps in to help the team when another member is absent
·  encourages others to share ideas, helps to make them clear, and connects them to the team’s work
·  notices if a team member does not understand something and takes action to help
Respect for
Others / ·  does not pay attention to what teammates are talking about
·  does not show respect for teammates (may interrupt, ignore ideas, hurt feelings) / ·  listens carefully to teammates
·  is polite and kind to teammates / In addition to At Standard
criteria:
·  encourages the team to be respectful to each other
·  recognizes everyone’s strengths and encourages the team to use them