======Balloon Powered Car======


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**Materials: **{{$demo.materials_description}}\\
**Difficulty: **{{$demo.difficulty_description}}\\
**Safety: **{{$demo.safety_description}}\\
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**Categories:** {{$demo.categories}}
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====Summary====                   
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====Procedure====  
  - Gather recycled materials such as a lightweight bottle, four bottle caps for wheels, two skewers for axles, straws, tape, scissors, and a balloon.  
  - Cut two straws slightly wider than the bottle and tape them parallel to the underside to act as wheel supports.  
  - Push skewers through the straws, attaching bottle caps at both ends to form rolling axles.  
  - Attach the balloon securely to one end of a straw using a rubber band, ensuring there are no air leaks.  
  - Cut a small hole in the top or side of the car body, and feed the straw with the balloon through it so that it points backward.  
  - Inflate the balloon through the straw, place the car on a smooth surface, and release the air to propel the car forward.  
  - Observe how far and how smoothly the car travels. Make adjustments if wheels are not aligned or if the car veers off course.



====Links==== 
How to make a Simple Balloon Powered Car | DIY Air Powered Car | Science Project - Creative fest: 
{{youtube>y9PxxcU3nNs?}}\\

Make a Balloon Powered Car with Plastic Bottle | DIY Air Powered Car | Science Project - Creative fest: 
{{youtube>vny_dMRfkks?}}\\

📄 Build a Balloon Car - Ben Finio: [[https://www.sciencebuddies.org/stem-activities/balloon-car]]\\


====Variations====
  * Try using different materials for the car body, such as cardboard or foam trays.  
  * Change balloon sizes to see how air volume affects travel distance.  
  * Add weights or modify the shape to study the effect of mass and aerodynamics.  
  * Build multiple designs and hold a race to test which car travels the farthest or straightest.



====Safety Precautions====
  * Use scissors and hobby knives only under adult supervision.  
  * Avoid overinflating the balloon to prevent popping.  
  * Keep sharp skewers pointed away from hands and eyes.  
  * Work on a clear, flat surface to prevent rolling objects from falling.




====Questions to Consider====
  * Which force makes the car move forward? (The air rushing out pushes backward, propelling the car forward—Newton’s third law.)  
  * How can you make the car travel farther? (Reduce friction, increase balloon air volume, improve wheel alignment.)  
  * What happens when the balloon runs out of air? (The car continues moving until friction stops it—Newton’s first law.)  
  * How is potential energy converted to kinetic energy in this activity? (Air stored in the inflated balloon provides potential energy, which converts to motion as the balloon deflates.)  
  * How could you modify the design to carry a small load or move faster? (Experiment with lighter materials, larger balloons, or smoother axles.)