Balloon Hovercraft

Materials: ★☆☆ Easy to get from supermarket or hardware store
Difficulty: ★☆☆ Can be easily done by most teenagers
Safety: ★☆☆ Minimal safety procedures required

Categories: Force, Motion

Alternative titles: CD Hovercraft

Summary

A CD, balloon, and sport drink cap are assembled into a simple hovercraft that demonstrates Newton’s Third Law of Motion and the reduction of friction. Air from the balloon escapes downward through the CD hole, lifting and moving the hovercraft.

Procedure

Provide each student with a CD, a balloon, and a sport drink cap with a pop-out nozzle.
Attach the cap to the shiny side of the CD, ensuring the holes align, using hot glue or duct tape.
Stretch the balloon over the nozzle of the cap.
Inflate the balloon through the cap and pinch its neck to hold the air.
Place the hovercraft on a smooth surface.
Release the balloon and observe the hovercraft glide.

Links

Emily's Science Lab - Create Your Own Hovercraft - UFO Science Experiment - Emily Calandrelli:

Science experiment: How to make a CD balloon hovercraft - Kidspot:

📄 Balloon Hovercraft - Science World: https://www.scienceworld.ca/resource/balloon-hovercraft/

📄 Make a balloon hovercraft - Fizzics Education: https://www.fizzicseducation.com.au/150-science-experiments/force-movement-experiments/make-a-balloon-hovercraft/?srsltid=AfmBOooQV8Tx2Uq3YWhZ42xBnVhjL0dyCF3DAd1bsCsTE2WQAYm8tdSd

Variations

Use balloons of different sizes to compare speed and duration of motion.
Test hovercrafts on different surfaces to compare friction effects.
Add small weights to explore how load impacts motion.

Safety Precautions

Use caution when handling hot glue guns, adult supervision recommended.
Ensure balloons are not overinflated to avoid bursting.
Check that CD edges are smooth to prevent scratches.

Questions to Consider

When the balloon is released, where does the air go? (It escapes downward through the CD hole.)
What is the equal and opposite reaction according to Newton’s Third Law? (The downward push of air creates an upward lift on the hovercraft.)
Why does the hovercraft move more easily when the balloon is inflated? (The air reduces friction by creating a thin cushion between the CD and the surface.)
How could you design an experiment to test how balloon size affects speed? (Inflate different balloon sizes, measure hovercraft travel distance/time, and compare results.)