======Balloon Rocket======


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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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**Alternative titles:** Newton’s Third Law with Balloons
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====Summary====                   
{{$demo.summary}}



====Procedure====  
  - Cut a length of string (about 3 meters) and thread it through a straw.  
  - Secure one end of the string to a wall, desk, or post.  
  - Have a partner hold the other end taut and parallel to the ground.  
  - Inflate a balloon without tying it, then pinch the neck closed.  
  - Tape the balloon to the straw with the open end pointing backwards.  
  - Release the balloon and observe how far and fast it travels along the string.



====Links==== 
Balloon Rocket Science Experiment for Kids - The Dad Lab: 
{{youtube>TfZsGy_q9zA?}}\\

Balloon Rocket | Rocket Balloons Experiment - One Little Project: 
{{youtube>2qc7WVwwOUg?}}\\

📄 Make a Balloon Rocket - Science Bob: [[https://sciencebob.com/make-a-balloon-rocket/]]\\


====Variations====
  * Use different string types (fishing line, yarn, thread) to compare friction effects.  
  * Add fins or a paper nose cone to stabilize the flight.  
  * Attach small weights (cargo) to the balloon to see how added mass affects distance.  
  * Angle the string upward to test how well the balloon rocket can travel against gravity.  
  * Try balloons of different sizes and shapes to compare propulsion power.



====Safety Precautions====
  * Use caution when inflating balloons; do not overinflate to avoid bursting.  
  * Keep balloons away from small children to prevent choking hazards.  
  * Clear the launch area to avoid tripping hazards with the string.




====Questions to Consider====
  * What is the force that propels the balloon forward? (The escaping air pushes backward, creating a forward reaction force.)  
  * How could you make the balloon travel farther? (Use a larger balloon, reduce string friction, or stabilize it with fins.)  
  * Why does the balloon eventually stop moving? (Air runs out and friction with the string and air resistance slows it down.)  
  * How is this similar to how rockets work in space? (Both rely on action and reaction forces rather than needing air to push against.)