Balloon - Powered Cars



Balloon - Powered Cars

5th Grade Project

Objectives:

▪ To build a balloon-powered car that will go as far as possible in a straight line.

▪ Apply the Scientific Method and scientific concepts while designing and testing the car.

General Information:

▪ Even though this project is called a balloon-powered car, it does not have to look like a “car”, or any regular vehicle.

▪ Students may work alone (I really prefer that they work with someone), or with one other student on this assignment. Remember that each person in a group must contribute equally to the project. Groups can include as many as four people.

▪ If you tell me that you are working in a group, you must work in that group until completion. You cannot quit a group once you are part of a group. No EXCEPTIONS!

▪ Each student or group must design an original car and enter it in the competition. Do not copy someone else’s design.

▪ The ideal distance is the car would travel is 50 ft, but do your best, this project can be difficult.

▪ This is a graded assignment.

▪ Some class time will be given to work on the project, but some of it will be done outside of class.

Car Body:

▪ You can build the car out of anything that was not originally part of any type of vehicle, or was not made for that purpose.

▪ You are to use common household materials, and should not need to purchase anything specifically for use on your car.

▪ Remember that the car needs to be light enough to travel by balloon power.

▪ I have a limited number of supplies that can be borrowed if needed.

▪ You may appropriately name and/or decorate your car. Inappropriate names and/or decorations will result in the disqualification of the car, resulting in a zero for your grade.

Wheels:

▪ “Wheels” are defined as anything that is round and goes around.

▪ The car must have at least 3 wheels.

▪ Wheels are often the biggest challenge in building the car. I have some wheels that you may borrow. (I have some ideas and suggestions if you need help)

▪ If you do not use wheels from me, then you cannot use any other type of wheels, rims, or tires made for any type of toy or vehicle. They must be made out of something not originally intended to be wheels or parts of wheels.

Balloon Power:

▪ The car must be powered by one balloon provided by me. The only source of propulsion, or energy, will be the air escaping from the provided inflated balloon.

▪ The balloon is to be blown up using lungpower by the car owner. I will give you 2 balloons for practice. I will provide a new balloon for race day.

▪ The balloon must be attached to the car in some way.

Car Motion:

▪ The car must roll on the wheels, and the wheels must spend the majority of the time on the ground.

▪ Once the balloon is blown up and released, the car must move along the floor without any assistance by a person.

▪ The car should be able to travel at least 20 feet in a straight line.

▪ The car should travel in as straight a line as possible. Distance traveled will be measured in a straight line from the starting point to the ending point, regardless of the direction of the motion of the car.

Building Your Car:

▪ You can use any acceptable materials to build your car.

▪ Most of the car building will need to be done outside of class.

▪ DO NOT JUST GOOGLE BALLOON POWERED CAR ( I CAN DO THE SAME THING AND CHECK.

▪ Remember you must work together, share ideas, and HAVE FUN!

▪ Race Day!

▪ You will be testing your car at home as you build it, but you will probably want to test it at school because of the differences in surfaces.

▪ The official “Trial Run” will be on Friday March 16. We will test cars in the gym during Science class on this day. There will be some awards for most creative, farthest traveled, etc.

▪ No late entries are accepted.

▪ The racetrack will be in the gym to give us more room.

▪ Each car will be allowed 3 trials if desired. Minor adjustments may be made between trials if needed.

▪ The distance your car travels will be measured in a straight line from the starting point to where the car stops, regardless of its direction of travel.

▪ The best distance of the 3 trials will be used as your official distance.

▪ Cars must remain intact at the end of the race.

Important Final Reminders:

▪ Remember that the car you enter should be the result of your own work.

▪ Failure to follow rules may result in loss of points or disqualification of car.

▪ MOMS AND DADS: I KNOW THAT AS PARENTS WE LIKE TO DO HANDS ON ACTIVITIES, BUT MAKE SURE THAT IT IS THEIR IDEAS AND CREATIVITY PLEASE. THEY MAY NEED HELP WITH TOOLS (i.e. ANY SAWING, DRILLING etc.) THEY ALSO MAY NEED SOME SUPPORT AFTER THAT FIRST TEST RUN WHEN THEY WANT TO THROW THEIR CAR (

HINT : ½ CPVC PIPE WORKS REALLY WELL TO COMPRESS AIR FROM THE BALLOON INTO A FORCE.

GRADING:

I will be grading you one effort, ideas, creativity, sportsmanship, teamwork, and self evaluations.

TRY YOUR BEST! AT first you may not be successful! The important thing is to have fun and work together! You may not always agree in your group, which is okay, but you are expected to work through it.

Please sign that this has been read through.

PARENT SIGNATURE : ___________________________________

STUDENT SIGNATURE: ____________________________________

PARTNER NAME :__________________________________________

RACE DAY Will Be April 4, 2014. I will give the students some days to work together in class. They are always welcome to meet at school before school starts, recess, or lunches as long as I am in the room.

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