Balloon Powered Cars
Cars are excellent examples of physics concepts. Now that we have discussed velocity, acceleration, and Newton’s Laws of motion, you are going to put your physics knowledge and your creativity to the test. Your group(you or you and one partner) must design a small vehicle that is powered only by the force from the release of air from a balloon. Your design is only restricted by your creativity andthe regulations and standards below. Good luck and happy designing.
1. Materials for the car must be made of cheap items found easily around the home, but NO
prefabricated cars.
2. The vehicle must movefreely along the ground using only the air inside the balloon for power.
The balloon must be attached to the vehicle at all times.
3. The balloon must be provided by you and can be of any shape or size, however you must
inflate the balloon by yourself. (NO pumps allowed!!!) You can use multiple balloons.
4. Each group must make their own vehicle.
5. Each vehiclemust make at least 2 runs, so be sure to bring an extra balloon and repair
equipment if needed on race day.
6. During each race the following will be recorded:
VELOCITY – Each vehicle will be timed over its travel distance to calculate velocity
DISTANCE TRAVELED – Each car’s journey will be measured in a straight line from
start to finish.
ENDURANCE – Each car’s total travel time will be recorded.
The overall winner in each of the above categories will win 3 bonus points for their car.
Highest average velocity, Longest distance traveled, Longest time traveled
7. An additional category will be for DESIGN and WORKMANSHIP. You may paint and/or
decorate your car for style, appearance, and creativity.
8. Required paperwork (typed)
Write 12 sentences (4 per law)describing how Newton’s 3 Laws are demonstrated by your vehicle.
Write 8 sentences describing and explaining how at least 4 different forces act on your vehicle.
Write 8 sentences describing how advances in physics have enabled you to create the vehicle
you made. Compare your vehicle to one a student might have created 100 years ago.
GRADING: The grading criteria will be based on the following areas.
1. Completion and quality of required paperwork (40 pts)
2. Participation on race day.(10 pts)
3. Following design instructions and regulations. (25 pts)
4. Distance traveled by car during race. (25 pts)
0 cm = 0 pts
1 cm – 50 cm = 5 pts
51 cm – 100 cm = 10 pts
101 cm – 150 cm = 15 pts
151 cm – 200 cm = 20 pts
200 + cm= 25 pts