Experiment Exchange

  • About
  • Curriculum Store
  • Join/Login

Make a Recycled Bottle Balloon Racecar

Make a Recycled Bottle Balloon Racecar
Make a Recycled Bottle Balloon Racecar
  • Recommended Ages: 5-7, 8-11, 12+
  • Adult Involvement: Low
Login to Print
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google Plus
  • Pinterest
Add to Favorites

Make a Recycled Bottle Balloon Racecar

By Curiosity Zone March 24, 2016

In this science experiment, kids will build a rocket balloon racecar and explore Newton's Third Law of Motion.

Newton’s Third Law of Motion states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. In this experiment, when the balloon pushes air out of the back of the car, there is an equal and opposite push that forces the car forward.

This project also presents an opportunity to experiment with how cars are engineered, as kids can work to make their cars move faster, straighter, etc.

Materials

  • Recycled plastic water bottle - 1 per student
  • Recycled plastic bottle caps (all same) - 4 per student
  • Large toothpicks or wooden skewers (axles) - 2 per student
  • Straws - 6-10 per student
  • Balloon - 1 per student
  • Tape
  • Decorations as desired

Create shopping list

Instructions

Remove the cap from the water bottle.

Cut the straws so they are just slightly shorter than your toothpicks. Glue or tape them to the bottom of the bottle so that they can hold the wheel axles (toothpicks) in place.

Poke small holes in the plastic caps. Attach one to one end of each of toothpicks. Thread the end of the toothpick without the cap through the straw, then attach a plastic cap to the other end. Be sure all of this is secure and not too wobbly. Now you have a basic car!

To make your car go, you’ll need a force; wind power from a balloon will work nicely!

Tape together 3 or more straws, then securely tape an uninflated balloon to one end.

Make a hole in the top center of the water bottle (with the wheels on the ground) and thread the end of the straws that aren't attached to the balloon through the hole and out the neck of the bottle. The balloon should be above the car; the open ends of the straws should be sticking out through the neck.

Decorate your car as desired. Now you are ready to race!

To race your car, blow up the balloon through the straws then twist the balloon to hold the air in. When you are ready to launch, place the car on the ground, untwist the balloon and let the car go!

Extensions:

Encourage kids to re-engineer their cars to create more wind power (Bigger balloon? More straws? Fatter straws?), more speed (Add fins? Bigger wheels? Less wobble in the wheels?), etc.

In a classroom or group setting, create a starting line and let the kids race their cars together.

You may also like

View Experiment

Make a Paper Helicopter

View Experiment

Make a Balancing Butterfly

View Experiment

Make an Origami Robotic Finger

Post navigation

Walk Like a Penguin! →

Experiment Index

View Full Experiment Index

Recent Posts

  • Make a Paper Helicopter
  • Make a Balancing Butterfly
  • Make an Origami Robotic Finger
  • Make Sidewalk Chalk
  • Make a “Harmonica”

Categories

  • Animals
  • Arts, Crafts & Maker
  • Chemistry/Matter
  • Cooking & Food
  • Curriculum & Guides
  • Dinnertable Science
  • Earth & Space
  • Earth Day
  • Easter
  • Fall
  • Halloween
  • Living Systems
  • Outdoor Activities
  • Physics/Force, Energy & Motion
  • Preschool
  • Spring
  • St. Patrick's Day
  • Summer
  • Thanksgiving
  • Uncategorized
  • Valentine's Day
  • Winter
  • Winter Holidays
Twitter Facebook Pinterest Instagram    Curriculum Store | Startup Guides

Newsletter

Receive experiment inspiration in your inbox:

Thanks for signing up!

All Experiments
Grades 3-5
Grades K-2
Preschool

About Us

  • About Us
  • Experiment Index
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs

Find Us

Twitter Facebook Pinterest Instagram

Resources

  • Curriculum Store
  • Start a Program
Experiment Exchange: Fun for Little Scientists

© 2019 Curiosity Zone Science - All rights reserved.
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Statement
  • Legal Notices & Trademarks