Description:
Your balloon bottle car is a demonstration of all three of Newton’s laws of motion. Let’s learn about what these laws mean and how they are instrumental to the success of the activity!
Newton’s First Law of Motion – know as the law of inertia – an object at rest stays at rest, and a object in motion stays in motion with the same speed and the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.
Newton’s Second Law of Motion – larger things need more force to move than lighter things. Example – pushing a car or a shopping cart.
Newton’s Third Law of Motion – for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
When you inflate the balloon, potential energy is stored. Once the balloon is released, the potential energy is turned into kinetic energy. Using recycled materials, build your car however you want! Decorate it using your favorite colors, stickers and more.
How it’s Done…
- Step 1: Cut two straws so they are slightly longer than the width of the bottle.
- Step 2: Tape the straws to the bottle. Make sure they are parallel.
- Step 3: Cut the skewers so they are slightly longer than the straws.
- Step 4:Ask an adult to use the knife to make small holes in the center of all four bottle caps.
- Step 5: Push a skewer through one of the holes.
- Step 6: Thread the skewer through one of the straws, pointy end first.
- Step 7: Push a bottle cap onto the other end of the skewer. This makes an axle with two wheels.
- Step 8: Repeat steps 5–7 to make a second axle.
- Step 9: Make sure your axles spin freely. Put the car down and make sure it rolls smoothly. It might get stuck if the wheels wobble or the axles are not parallel. Adjust them if needed.
- Step 10: Slide the short end of the third straw into the neck of the balloon.
- Step 11: Tightly wrap a rubber band around the neck of the balloon.
- Step 12: Blow the balloon up through the straw to make sure there are no leaks.
- Step 13: Cut a small hole (big enough for the straw) in the top of the car.
- Step 14: Press the free end of the straw through the small hole and out the mouth of the bottle.
- Step 15: Tape the straw so it points backwards, not down.
- Step 16: Inflate your balloon; then put the car down and release! Cover the tip of the straw with your fingertip to keep the air in the balloon until you put it down.
- Step 17: If your car does not move at all, or moves very slowly, inflate the balloon more and try again.
- Step 18: If your car still does not move, double check your axles to make sure they spin freely. If the wheels and axles are not aligned, the balloon might not be strong enough to push the car forward.
