How to Design a Balloon Car
Air is one of the most powerful natural substances in the world. High-powered winds can create havoc across the world. In small amounts, however, air can be directed toward useful or exciting purposes. One way that air can be used constructively is to create a small car powered by air made from a balloon and other materials. This is an effective way to teach air properties and kinetic energy to children.
Things You'll Need
- 4 plastic water bottle caps
- Power drill
- Cardboard rectangle (such as from a box flap)
- Saw
- Wooden cooking skewers
- Straight and bendable straws
- Balloons
- Tape
- Rubber bands
- Plastic modeling paste
- Scissors
- Clothespins
Instructions
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1
Drill a hole into each of the plastic water bottle caps, just large enough for the wood skewers to fit through. The caps, which form the wheels of the car, should fit snugly around the wood skewers. If the holes are too large, the car will not operate properly.
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2
Cut a straight straw in half. Tape one half of the straw lengthwise to one short side of the cardboard rectangle. Tape the other half to the other short side of the rectangle. Make sure the straws are on the same side of the cardboard. These straws are the axle covers. If the cardboard rectangle is wider than the straw, cut the rectangle until it is small enough. Stick the wooden skewers through the straws. Cut the skewers if they are too long.
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3
Stick the plastic "wheels" over the skewers. Place a small blob of plastic modeling paste at the end of each skewer to hold the wheels in place.
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4
Bend the bendable straw in half along the bendy end. Cut the long end of the straw so that it is the same length as the bendy end of the straw. Blow the balloon up two to three times to make it easy to blow up. Place the non-bendy end of the straw inside the balloon. Use the rubber band to hold the balloon tight around the straw.
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5
Tape the neck of the balloon containing the straw to the top of the cardboard. Blow up the balloon by blowing into the straw. Hold the air inside the balloon by pinching it with your fingers. You can also use a clothespin to hold the air inside the balloon. Place the balloon on a flat surface and release your fingers on the clothespin to watch the car balloon shoot across the floor.
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Tips & Warnings
Create several balloon cars to race. Make sure each balloon is filled with an equal amount of air to make the race fair.
