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Make A Recycled Balloon Car Lesson Plan

This document provides instructions for making a balloon powered recycled car out of common household materials like a juice box and bottle caps. The car demonstrates scientific concepts of potential and kinetic energy as the stretched balloon stores potential energy that is converted to kinetic energy to power the motion of the vehicle. Recycling materials is an important part of the project and the work done at Idaho National Laboratory where reducing waste sent to landfills is a goal.

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41 views3 pages

Make A Recycled Balloon Car Lesson Plan

This document provides instructions for making a balloon powered recycled car out of common household materials like a juice box and bottle caps. The car demonstrates scientific concepts of potential and kinetic energy as the stretched balloon stores potential energy that is converted to kinetic energy to power the motion of the vehicle. Recycling materials is an important part of the project and the work done at Idaho National Laboratory where reducing waste sent to landfills is a goal.

Uploaded by

dezlord522
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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MAKE A BALLOON POWERED

RECYCLED CAR
Make a fun balloon powered DIY car from just a few pieces of
recycled materials, like a juice box and bottle tops. Chances are you
have all the materials you need for this entertaining craft right at
home. It’s also an easy project that young children can make from
start to finish.

At Idaho National Laboratory, recycling is an important aspect of our


work. The goal of INL’s recycling program is to reduce materials
headed for the landfill and the consumption of raw materials.

GRADE LEVELS: K-5


VOCABULARY
RECYCLING- the action or process of converting waste into reusable
material.

AIR PRESSURE- force exerted onto a surface by the weight of the air.

POTENTIAL ENERGY- the energy possessed by a body by virtue of its


position relative to others, stresses within itself, electric charge, and other
factors.

KINETIC ENERGY- energy which a body possesses by virtue of being in


motion.
MATERIALS
– Empty juice box
– 4 bottle tops (the ones from fruit or baby squeezers)
– Small piece of molding clay (any type will do)
– Two small skewers, or one long one you can cut down to size
– 3 straws (one needs to have the flexible head)
– Duct tape
– Balloon
– Felt fabric, glue (optional if you want to decorate your box, but not necessary)

PROCEDURE
1. Wrap your juice box in your felt fabric and glue down (optional and purely
decorative).
2. Add some clay to your caps.
3. Prepare your car axles. You want to cut two skewers that are slightly longer than
your straws and that will extend over your juice box. Place your skewer inside the
cut straw and then attach to the “wheels’ or caps pushing down the clay to hold
the skewer in place.
4. Take a straw and place your balloon over the bendable head part. Secure down
with duct tape, leaving no gaps so you can use the straw to blow up the balloon.
5. Use duct tape to place your axles and wheels on your juice car. They will still roll:
the tape holds the straw down, but the skewer will still roll as the car moves.
6. Use duct tape to place the straw with balloon on top of your car.
7. You’re done! Now it’s time to blow up the balloon and watch the car go!

THE SCIENCE BEHIND IT


The inflated balloon stores potential energy in the form of the stretched rubber of the
balloon and the compressed air inside the balloon. The more the balloon is inflated, the
more potential energy it stores. The balloon's stored potential energy is converted to
kinetic energy, the energy of motion. An object's kinetic energy depends on its mass and
the square of its velocity. For example, if two objects are moving at the same speed, the
heavier one has more kinetic energy.

This balloon's kinetic energy is gradually converted to thermal energy as friction slows it
down. The balloon may also collide with an object like a wall or desk, which exerts a
force to stop the balloon (and converts the remaining energy into thermal energy).
EXTENSIONS
Make more balloon cars with slight variations and race each other.
Which one was faster? Were there numerous differences between the designs?

RESOURCES
- https://www.hellowonderful.co/post/MAKE-A-BALLOON-POWERED-
RECYCLED-JUICE-BOX-CAR/
- https://www.sciencebuddies.org/teacher-resources/lesson-plans/balloon-car

LEARN MORE ABOUT INL


STUDENTS + PARENTS + EDUCATORS

For information on grants, training and student


opportunities; curriculum ideas and resources,
please visit us at: stem.inl.gov.

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