Cool Science Experiments Headquarters
Making Science Fun, Easy to Teach and Exciting to Learn!
Science Experiments
Balloon Rocket Science Experiment – A Balloon that Flies like a Rocket
3-2-1 Blast Off! This simple and fun science experiment teaches children about Action and Reaction. Using everyday household items, children learn how the force of air moving in one direction can propel balloon in the opposite direction, much like a rocket!
Below you’ll find a supplies list of everything you need, printable instructions, and the scientific explanation of how it demonstrates Newton’s Third Law of Motion in a fun, hands-on way. It’s so much fun, your kids will want to do it over and over with balloons of different shapes and sizes.
JUMP TO: Instructions | Video Tutorial | How it Works | Lab Kit
Supplies Needed
- Drink Straw
- Two objects of the same height that you can tie a string to. We used two chairs
Balloon Rocket Science Lab Kit – Only $5
Use our easy Balloon Rocket Science Lab Kit to grab your students’ attention without the stress of planning!
It’s everything you need to make science easy for teachers and fun for students — using inexpensive materials you probably already have in your storage closet!
Balloon Rocket Science Experiment Instructions
Wondering how to create a balloon rocket? It’s easy! Simply follow these step by step instructions.
Step 1 – Position two objects of the same height (We used chairs) about 10 feet apart. Then grab your string and securely tie one end to one of the objects.
Step 2 – Next, get your plastic drinking straw. If you are using a “bendy” straws with the flexible piece on one end, cut off the flexible part so you are left with a straight straw.
Thread the string through the straw and place two pieces of tape near the middle of the straw. P osition the two pieces of tape near the middle of the straw is important because if you place them near the ends of the straw, the straw will bend when the balloon deflates and the rocket won’t move as quickly.
Step 3 – Then tie the loose end of the string to your second object (We used a second chair across the room) and make sure the string is tight. If the string isn’t tight, move the objects farther apart until it is.
Step 4 – Blow up the balloon and hold the end so the air can’t escape and use the two pieces of tape to secure the balloon to the straw.
Take a moment to make observations. What do you think will happen when the you let go of the end of the balloon? Write down your hypothesis (prediction) and then continue the experiment to test it out and to find out if you were correct.
Then move the straw and balloon to one end of the string. And once you are ready….
Step 5 – Let go of the balloon and watch what happens! Do you know what caused the balloon to rocket across the room? Find out the answer in the how does this experiment work section below. Then inflate the balloon again and repeat again and again.
Balloon Rocket Science Experiment Video Tutorial
How Does the Science Experiment Work?
The balloon flies across the string because of air and thrust. Thrust can be explained by Newton’s Third Law of Motion . Newton’s third law states that for every action there is an equal but opposite reaction. As the air is released out of the balloon in one direction, the force propels the balloon in the other direction. This equal but opposite force causes the balloon to fly across the string like a rocket!
I hope you enjoyed the experiment. Here are some printable instructions:
Balloon Rocket Science Experiment
- Two objects of the same height that you can tie a string to. I used chairs.
Instructions
- Position two objects of the same height (I’m using chairs) about 10 feet apart and grab a piece of string.
- Tie one end of the string to one of the objects. Make sure it is securely fashioned.
- Next, get a straight plastic drinking straw. If the straw is one of the “bendy” straws with the flexible piece, cut off the flexible part so you are left with a straight straw.
- Place two pieces of tape on the straw. Note: Be sure to position the two pieces of tape near the middle of the straw. If you put them near the ends of the straw it will bend when you blow up the balloon and the rocket won’t move as quickly.
- Thread the string through the straw
- Tie the loose end of string to the back of your second object (I’m using another chair) and make sure the string is tight. If the string isn’t tight, move the objects farther apart until it is.
- Blow up the balloon and hold the end so the air can’t escape and use the two pieces of tape to secure the balloon to the straw.
- Move the straw and balloon to one end of the string. And once you are ready…..
- Let go of the balloon and watch as it rockets across the string! Then inflate the balloon again and repeat again and again.
Reader Interactions
March 30, 2016 at 11:05 pm
you balloon rocket is so cool!
– Misk Algaysi
May 10, 2017 at 6:20 pm
The balloon wind is pushing against the regular wind which makes it fly and the rope is inside the straw which also makes it go faster.
October 28, 2018 at 10:27 pm
Cool experiment. The balloon flew like a rocket!
June 8, 2023 at 7:55 am
This is a really cool experiment! I am going to try this for my science experiment.
— Matthew Jensen
Leave a Reply Cancel reply
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.
- Privacy Policy
- Disclosure Policy
Copyright © 2024 · Cool Science Experiments HQ
- Grades 6-12
- School Leaders
Have you entered to win this adorable math giveaway? ✨
20 Balloon Experiments to Make Your Lessons Really Pop
See what we did there?
There’s something about the sight of colorful balloons that just makes you feel a little excited, don’t you think? That’s why kids will go crazy for these balloon experiments, whether they’re building a balloon-powered boat or powering a light bulb with static electricity. Plus, balloons are inexpensive, so stock up at the dollar store and get ready to throw a science party!
1. Blow up a balloon … without blowing
This is one of those classic balloon experiments everyone remembers doing in school. Kids learn about chemical reactions by mixing acids and bases. They’re always amazed at the results!
Learn more: Balloon Baking Soda Experiment
2. Design a balloon-powered car
Explore the laws of motion and encourage creativity when you challenge students to design, build, and test their own balloon-powered cars. Bonus: Use only recycled materials to make this project green! ( Find more cool car activities for the classroom here. )
Learn more: Balloon-Powered Car Challenge
3. Skewer a balloon without popping it
If you do this one right, you’ll make kids’ eyes pop—but not the balloon! They’ll learn about the polymers that make balloons possible, and even a little bit about how to stay cool under pressure.
Learn more: Balloon Skewer
4. Float a balloon-powered boat
Discover the power of air pressure and the third law of motion with this fun and inexpensive balloon experiment. Take this one outside on a sunny day and let kids splash away while they learn!
Learn more: Balloon-Powered Sponge Boat
5. Create ice crystal explosions
Fill balloons with water and leave them to freeze overnight. The next day, carefully cut open the balloons to reveal the beauty inside. Kids learn about crystallization and the expansion of water as it freezes. ( Get more science experiments involving ice and snow here. )
Learn more: Super Cool Melting Ice Experiment
6. Explore the science of swim bladders
Just how do fish manage to float without sinking or rising? Find out when you explore buoyancy with this swim bladder experiment using a glass bottle, balloon, and a few other basic materials.
Learn more: How Fish Sink and Float
7. Assemble a heart pump model
Anatomy lessons literally come alive when you do balloon experiments like this one. This working heart model demonstrates how blood pumps through the valves and chambers.
Learn more: DIY Heart Pump
8. Learn how lungs work
Your students might be surprised to learn that lungs have no muscles to make them work. Instead, the contraction of the diaphragm pulls air in and forces it out. This clever model helps explain the process.
Learn more: Lung Science Experiment
9. Blast off with a two-stage rocket
The rockets used for space flight generally have more than one stage to give them the extra boost they need. This experiment uses balloons to model a two-stage rocket launch, teaching kids about the laws of motion.
Learn more: Two-Stage Balloon Rocket
10. Build a hovercraft
It’s not exactly the same model the military uses, but this simple hovercraft is a lot easier to build. An old CD and a balloon help demonstrate air pressure and friction in this simple experiment.
Learn more: DIY Hovercraft
11. Parachute a water balloon
Water balloon experiments make a big splash with kids! In this one, they’ll explore how air resistance slows a water balloon’s landing using a homemade parachute.
Learn more: Water Balloon Skydiving
12. Sink or swim with water balloons
Fill water balloons with a variety of different liquids like oil, salt water, and corn syrup, then float them in a bucket of water to learn about density and buoyancy.
Learn more: Water Balloon Experiment
13. Perform the two balloons experiment
You have two balloons, one filled with more air than the other. When you open the valve between them, what will happen? The answer is almost certain to surprise you. Learn how it works in the video at the link below.
Learn more: Air Pressure Experiment
14. Power a light bulb with static electricity
One of the first balloon experiments most kids try is rubbing a balloon on their hair to make their hair stand on end. The next step is to hold the balloon over a compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) to see it glow from the static electricity. Wow!
Learn more: Magic Light Bulb Balloon Science Experiment
15. Spin a penny round and round
In this simple experiment, students use kinetic energy and centripetal force to spin a penny inside a balloon. They’ll want to try other objects too, so hold a contest to see which spins the longest.
Learn more: The Spinning Penny
16. Fire up an air cannon
Discover the power of an air vortex with this easy DIY air cannon. To really understand how it works, use some incense to create visible smoke rings that will really impress your students.
Learn more: Air Cannon Smoke Ring
17. Create a working water fountain
See the power of air pressure when you build a balloon-activated water fountain. You’ll only need simple supplies like a plastic bottle, straw, and putty.
Learn more: Water Bottle Fountain
18. Explore the effects of hot and cold air
The concept of expansion and contraction of air can be hard to visualize. That’s where this experiment comes in to save the day. Watch the balloon expand and contract as the air around it changes temperature.
Learn more: Exploring the Effects of Hot and Cold Air
19. Fireproof a balloon
A balloon will obviously pop when touched to a hot flame, right? Not if you put some cold water in it first! Kids will be so amazed they won’t even realize they’re learning about the heat conductivity of water.
Learn more: Fireproof balloon
20. Experiment with balloons and pushpins
A pin pops a balloon in no time flat, so what happens when you place a balloon on a table full of them? Once again, the answer won’t be quite what your students expect until you explain the science of distributed pressure.
Learn more: Pinning a Balloon
Have more balloon experiments to add to the list? Come and share in our We Are Teachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.
Plus, check out our big list of easy science experiments .
You Might Also Like
40 Easy Kindergarten Science Experiments for Hands-On Learning
Every day brings a new discovery! Continue Reading
Copyright © 2024. All rights reserved. 5335 Gate Parkway, Jacksonville, FL 32256
- Sign in / Register
- Administration
- Edit profile
The PhET website does not support your browser. We recommend using the latest version of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge.
Balloon Rocket Experiment - Teach Kids About Air Pressure and Rocket Thrust
Posted by Admin / in Physics Experiments
Teach Kids About Rocket Thrust and Pressure Energy. This experiment uses a toy rocket with that uses a balloon to store energy and generate thrust for the rocket.
Items Needed for Experiment
- 15 feet of string (fishing line OK)
EXPERIMENT STEPS
Step 1: Feed one end of the string through the straw.
Step 2. Tape tape or tie one side of the string to a fixed object such as a chair. The object can be high or low. It is fun to experiment to see how high the balloon rocket can go. If there are extra helper kids, two kids can hold each end of the string instead of taping it to a chair.
Step 3. Inflate the balloon, but hold the opening closed so no air escapes.
Step 4. Tape the balloon to the straw using a few pieces of tape.
Step 5. Have either the rocket engineer hold the loose end of the string while they launch the rocket or have another helper hold the string.
Step 6. Let go of the balloon opening allowing the air to escape and the balloon rocket to be launched along the string line.
SCIENCE LEARNED
The rocket balloon demonstrates a type of energy called pressure energy. Energy is stored up inside the balloon in the form of air pressure. When the balloon is released the air pressure inside the balloon is greater than the outside pressure so the air escapes through the opening creating thrust force which propels the balloon. The string and straw are used to control the path of the rocket balloon. The straw rubbing against the string actually slows down the rocket slightly because of friction between the string and the straw.
Scientists are actually considering ways to utilize stored energy in the form of pressure. In many systems such as solar energy and wind energy, expensive rechargeable batteries are required to store the energy for later use such as at night or during less windy times. Pressure energy may provide a less expensive way of storing energy for later use.
- About the author
- Back to Experiment
Please select the social network you want to share this page with:
We like you too :)
Thanks for taking time to give us feedback!
- physics experiments
- science experiments for kids
- balloon rocket experiment
- how to make a balloon rocket
- toy rocket experiment
- air pressure energy storage
- previous experiment
- next experiment
Compass Experiment
in Physics Experiments
Learn how to build a simple wet compass and dry compass, then compare the two types.
How to Calculate Buoyancy Force
Experiment to determine the buoyancy forces acting on a floating and submerged object.
How to Make a Balloon Rocket
Use a balloon to propel a rocket across the sky. Teaches kids simple physics concepts.
Soil Erosion Experiment
Experiment to teach kids how soil erosion occurs and how erosion is stopped in real life.
How to Make a Paper Airplane Glider
Learn how to build a simple paper airplane glider.
Balloon Rockets
Grade level, 15 min - 1 hr, physical science, activity type:, engineering design challenge , data collection.
This lesson and activity is part of the Chemical Educational Foundation’s® award-winning You Be The Chemist® Activity Guides , a free resource for educators and parents who want to introduce students in grades K-8 to chemistry and science concepts in a fun, hands-on manner. Learn more at www.chemed.org
Relevant standards , formulas and equations
View the full activity guide and safety guide
Rocketry has existed for hundreds of years. Although the technology has greatly improved and there are numerous methods for propelling a rocket, the simple science behind rockets has always been the same. To propel a rocket, some kind of force must push it forward. A force is the amount of push or pull on an object. The mechanical force that pushes a rocket or aircraft through the air is known as thrust . In this experiment, you’ll make a balloon rocket that is propelled by pressure. Pressure is the amount of force exerted on an area.
When you blow up the balloon, you are filling it with gas particles. The gas particles move freely within the balloon and may collide with one another, exerting pressure on the inside of the balloon. As more gas is added to the balloon, the number of gas particles in the balloon increases, as well as the number of collisions. While the force of a single gas particle collision is too small to notice, the total force created by all of the gas particle collisions within the balloon is significant.
As the number of collisions within the balloon increases, so does the pressure within the balloon. In addition, the pressure of the gas inside the balloon becomes greater than the air pressure outside of the balloon. When you release the opening of the balloon, gas quickly escapes to equalize the pressure inside with the air pressure outside of the balloon. The escaping air exerts a force on the balloon itself. The balloon pushes back in a manner described by Newton’s Third Law of Motion. That opposing force—called thrust , in this case—propels the rocket forward.
- 10 feet of string
- Permanent marker
- Cargo (paper clips, bottle caps, candy, etc.)
- Cereal boxes, construction paper, or any other material to make lightweight cargo containers
- Tape, glue, scissors, and any other materials needed for construction
- Review the information in the Safety First section of the You Be The Chemist® resource guide
Experimental Procedure
As the students perform the experiment, challenge them to identify the independent, dependent, and controlled variables, as well as whether there is a control setup for the experiment. (Hint: As the amount of gas in the balloon changes, does the distance the rocket travels change?)
- Tie one end of a string to a chair, doorknob, or other support.
- Put the other end of the string through a straw. Then pull the string tight, and tie it to another support in the room.
- Blow up the balloon, and pinch the end of the balloon to keep the air inside. Do not tie the balloon.
- Tape the balloon to the straw so that the opening of the balloon is horizontal with the ground. You may need two students for this: one to keep the air pinched inside the balloon and the other to tape the balloon to the straw.
- While holding the balloon opening closed, one student should pull the balloon all the way back to the end of the string (the starting line) so that the balloon opening is against one support. Have another student use the marker to draw a finish line near the other end of the string.
- Let go of the balloon and watch it move along the string .
- Then, have students test different methods to transport “cargo” across the string to the finish line.
Data Collection
Have students record data in their science notebooks. What happened when the opening of the balloon was released and the gas was allowed to escape? If they timed the process, how long did it take for a rocket to cross the finish line? Have students answer the questions on the activity sheet (or similar ones of your own) to guide the process.
This lesson and activity is part of the Chemical Educational Foundation’s® (CEF) award-winning You Be The Chemist® Activity Guides, a free resource for educators and parents who want to introduce students to chemistry and science concepts in a fun, hands-on manner. The guides feature nearly 1,000 pages of lesson plans, science content, and activity sheets for students in grades K – 8. Download the guides for free at www.chemed.org/ybtc/guides/ . CEF’s other programs are the You Be The Chemist Challenge® (a national academic competition for grade 5 – 8 students) and You Be The Chemist® Essential Elements (professional development workshops for educators). In 2014 CEF celebrates its 25th anniversary. Find out more at www.chemed.org .
Related Links
In this Science Friday video, learn how Raul Oaida, at 18 years-old, attached a LEGO shuttle, a video camera, and a GPS tracker to a huge helium balloon and sent them into space:
Want to learn more about spaceflight? Listen to our Q&A with astronauts Don Pettit and Jeffrey Hoffman:
Ask an Astronaut: Don Pettit and Jeff Hoffman on Spaceflight
Education standards.
This lesson applies both Dimension 1: Scientific and Engineering Practices and Dimension 2: Crosscutting Concepts from “ A Framework for K–12 Science Education ,” established as a guide for the updated National Science Education Standards. In addition, this lesson covers the following Disciplinary Core Ideas from that framework:
PS2.A: Forces and Motion PS2.C: Stability and Instability in Physical Systems PS3.C: Relationship Between Energy and Forces ETS1.A: Definiting and Delimiting an Engineering Problem (see Analysis & Conclusion) ETS1.B: Developing Possible Solutions (see Analysis & Conclusion) ETS1.C: Optimizing the Design Solution (see Analysis & Conclusion) ETS2.A: Interdependence of Science, Engineering, and Technology (see Analysis & Conclusion)
Formulas and Equations
Newton’s laws of motion have played a key role in humans’ understanding of the universe.
- Newton’s First Law of Motion (the Law of Inertia) states: Every object in a state of uniform motion tends to remain in that state of motion unless an external force is applied to it.
- Newton’s Second Law of Motions states: The acceleration (a) of an object as produced by a net force is directly proportional to the magnitude of the net force (F) in the same direction as the net force, and inversely proportional to the mass (m) of the object. This relationship is described by the equation: F = ma.
- Newton’s Third Law of Motion states: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
- Pressure is the amount of force exerted on an area. This relationship is described by the following equation: p = F/A.
View the original You Be The Chemist® Lesson and Activity Guide – Balloon Rockets and print the activity sheet.
Donate To Science Friday
Make your year-end gift today. Invest in quality science journalism by making a donation to Science Friday.
Meet the Writer
About Chemical Educational Foundation
The Chemical Educational Foundation® is committed to enhancing science education by building greater public understanding and appreciation of chemistry and chemicals through K-8 educational programs and community partnerships. Learn more at www.chemed.org
Explore More
Simulate net forces to predict an object’s motion.
Use a simulation from PhET Interactive Simulations to model force in a tugging competition and a pushed skateboard.
Privacy Overview
| Cookie | Duration | Description |
|---|---|---|
| _abck | 1 year | This cookie is used to detect and defend when a client attempt to replay a cookie.This cookie manages the interaction with online bots and takes the appropriate actions. |
| ASP.NET_SessionId | session | Issued by Microsoft's ASP.NET Application, this cookie stores session data during a user's website visit. |
| AWSALBCORS | 7 days | This cookie is managed by Amazon Web Services and is used for load balancing. |
| bm_sz | 4 hours | This cookie is set by the provider Akamai Bot Manager. This cookie is used to manage the interaction with the online bots. It also helps in fraud preventions |
| cookielawinfo-checkbox-advertisement | 1 year | Set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin, this cookie is used to record the user consent for the cookies in the "Advertisement" category . |
| cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". |
| cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional | 11 months | The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". |
| cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". |
| cookielawinfo-checkbox-others | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. |
| cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". |
| csrftoken | past | This cookie is associated with Django web development platform for python. Used to help protect the website against Cross-Site Request Forgery attacks |
| JSESSIONID | session | The JSESSIONID cookie is used by New Relic to store a session identifier so that New Relic can monitor session counts for an application. |
| nlbi_972453 | session | A load balancing cookie set to ensure requests by a client are sent to the same origin server. |
| PHPSESSID | session | This cookie is native to PHP applications. The cookie is used to store and identify a users' unique session ID for the purpose of managing user session on the website. The cookie is a session cookies and is deleted when all the browser windows are closed. |
| TiPMix | 1 hour | The TiPMix cookie is set by Azure to determine which web server the users must be directed to. |
| viewed_cookie_policy | 11 months | The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data. |
| visid_incap_972453 | 1 year | SiteLock sets this cookie to provide cloud-based website security services. |
| X-Mapping-fjhppofk | session | This cookie is used for load balancing purposes. The cookie does not store any personally identifiable data. |
| x-ms-routing-name | 1 hour | Azure sets this cookie for routing production traffic by specifying the production slot. |
| Cookie | Duration | Description |
|---|---|---|
| __cf_bm | 30 minutes | This cookie, set by Cloudflare, is used to support Cloudflare Bot Management. |
| bcookie | 2 years | LinkedIn sets this cookie from LinkedIn share buttons and ad tags to recognize browser ID. |
| bscookie | 2 years | LinkedIn sets this cookie to store performed actions on the website. |
| lang | session | LinkedIn sets this cookie to remember a user's language setting. |
| lidc | 1 day | LinkedIn sets the lidc cookie to facilitate data center selection. |
| S | 1 hour | Used by Yahoo to provide ads, content or analytics. |
| sp_landing | 1 day | The sp_landing is set by Spotify to implement audio content from Spotify on the website and also registers information on user interaction related to the audio content. |
| sp_t | 1 year | The sp_t cookie is set by Spotify to implement audio content from Spotify on the website and also registers information on user interaction related to the audio content. |
| UserMatchHistory | 1 month | LinkedIn sets this cookie for LinkedIn Ads ID syncing. |
| Cookie | Duration | Description |
|---|---|---|
| __jid | 30 minutes | Cookie used to remember the user's Disqus login credentials across websites that use Disqus. |
| _gat | 1 minute | This cookie is installed by Google Universal Analytics to restrain request rate and thus limit the collection of data on high traffic sites. |
| _gat_UA-28243511-22 | 1 minute | A variation of the _gat cookie set by Google Analytics and Google Tag Manager to allow website owners to track visitor behaviour and measure site performance. The pattern element in the name contains the unique identity number of the account or website it relates to. |
| AWSALB | 7 days | AWSALB is an application load balancer cookie set by Amazon Web Services to map the session to the target. |
| countryCode | session | This cookie is used for storing country code selected from country selector. |
| Cookie | Duration | Description |
|---|---|---|
| _fbp | 3 months | This cookie is set by Facebook to display advertisements when either on Facebook or on a digital platform powered by Facebook advertising, after visiting the website. |
| fr | 3 months | Facebook sets this cookie to show relevant advertisements to users by tracking user behaviour across the web, on sites that have Facebook pixel or Facebook social plugin. |
| IDE | 1 year 24 days | Google DoubleClick IDE cookies are used to store information about how the user uses the website to present them with relevant ads and according to the user profile. |
| NID | 6 months | NID cookie, set by Google, is used for advertising purposes; to limit the number of times the user sees an ad, to mute unwanted ads, and to measure the effectiveness of ads. |
| personalization_id | 2 years | Twitter sets this cookie to integrate and share features for social media and also store information about how the user uses the website, for tracking and targeting. |
| test_cookie | 15 minutes | The test_cookie is set by doubleclick.net and is used to determine if the user's browser supports cookies. |
| vglnk.Agent.p | 1 year | VigLink sets this cookie to track the user behaviour and also limit the ads displayed, in order to ensure relevant advertising. |
| vglnk.PartnerRfsh.p | 1 year | VigLink sets this cookie to show users relevant advertisements and also limit the number of adverts that are shown to them. |
| VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE | 5 months 27 days | A cookie set by YouTube to measure bandwidth that determines whether the user gets the new or old player interface. |
| YSC | session | YSC cookie is set by Youtube and is used to track the views of embedded videos on Youtube pages. |
| yt-remote-connected-devices | never | YouTube sets this cookie to store the video preferences of the user using embedded YouTube video. |
| yt-remote-device-id | never | YouTube sets this cookie to store the video preferences of the user using embedded YouTube video. |
| yt.innertube::nextId | never | This cookie, set by YouTube, registers a unique ID to store data on what videos from YouTube the user has seen. |
| yt.innertube::requests | never | This cookie, set by YouTube, registers a unique ID to store data on what videos from YouTube the user has seen. |
| Cookie | Duration | Description |
|---|---|---|
| _dc_gtm_UA-28243511-20 | 1 minute | No description |
| abtest-identifier | 1 year | No description |
| AnalyticsSyncHistory | 1 month | No description |
| ARRAffinityCU | session | No description available. |
| ccc | 1 month | No description |
| COMPASS | 1 hour | No description |
| cookies.js_dtest | session | No description |
| debug | never | No description available. |
| donation-identifier | 1 year | No description |
| f | never | No description available. |
| GFE_RTT | 5 minutes | No description available. |
| incap_ses_1185_2233503 | session | No description |
| incap_ses_1185_823975 | session | No description |
| incap_ses_1185_972453 | session | No description |
| incap_ses_1319_2233503 | session | No description |
| incap_ses_1319_823975 | session | No description |
| incap_ses_1319_972453 | session | No description |
| incap_ses_1364_2233503 | session | No description |
| incap_ses_1364_823975 | session | No description |
| incap_ses_1364_972453 | session | No description |
| incap_ses_1580_2233503 | session | No description |
| incap_ses_1580_823975 | session | No description |
| incap_ses_1580_972453 | session | No description |
| incap_ses_198_2233503 | session | No description |
| incap_ses_198_823975 | session | No description |
| incap_ses_198_972453 | session | No description |
| incap_ses_340_2233503 | session | No description |
| incap_ses_340_823975 | session | No description |
| incap_ses_340_972453 | session | No description |
| incap_ses_374_2233503 | session | No description |
| incap_ses_374_823975 | session | No description |
| incap_ses_374_972453 | session | No description |
| incap_ses_375_2233503 | session | No description |
| incap_ses_375_823975 | session | No description |
| incap_ses_375_972453 | session | No description |
| incap_ses_455_2233503 | session | No description |
| incap_ses_455_823975 | session | No description |
| incap_ses_455_972453 | session | No description |
| incap_ses_8076_2233503 | session | No description |
| incap_ses_8076_823975 | session | No description |
| incap_ses_8076_972453 | session | No description |
| incap_ses_867_2233503 | session | No description |
| incap_ses_867_823975 | session | No description |
| incap_ses_867_972453 | session | No description |
| incap_ses_9117_2233503 | session | No description |
| incap_ses_9117_823975 | session | No description |
| incap_ses_9117_972453 | session | No description |
| li_gc | 2 years | No description |
| loglevel | never | No description available. |
| msToken | 10 days | No description |
Top 20 Fun Balloon Science Experiments
Get ready to embark on a thrilling journey as we explore the fascinating science behind balloons.
Our round-up of the top 20 balloon-based science experiments is designed to elevate the curiosity of kids of all ages! These hands-on, educational activities will not only enhance your grasp of science basics but also ignite a passion for exploration and discovery.
1. Pop a Balloon Using an Orange Peel
By carefully peeling an orange and using the peel to pop a balloon, students will explore the intriguing world of chemical reactions and pressure.
2. The Magnifying Glass Balloon Pop Experiment
By using a magnifying glass to focus the sun’s rays onto a black balloon contained within another balloon, students can witness the remarkable phenomenon of the balloon popping due to the concentrated heat.
3. Balloon Powered Sponge Boat
Prepare to set sail on a fascinating nautical adventure with the “Balloon Powered Sponge Boat” experiment! This engaging hands-on activity offers students a unique opportunity to explore the principles of buoyancy, propulsion, and energy conversion.
Learn more: Balloon-Powered Sponge Boat
3. Balloon Skewer
The “Balloon Skewer” experiment is a fantastic way to spark curiosity, challenge conventional wisdom, and foster a deeper understanding of the science behind everyday materials.
4. Balloon Powered Car
This exciting hands-on activity allows students to explore the principles of motion, force, and energy conversion in a fun and interactive way.
5. Learn about Swim Bladders
In this captivating hands-on activity, students will explore how fish control their position in the water column by creating their own swim bladders using balloons.
Learn more: Science Buddies
6. Boyle’s Law Experiment
By inflating a balloon and adjusting its size using a syringe, students can observe firsthand how changes in volume affect the pressure inside the balloon.
Through this experiment, students will gain a deeper understanding of Boyle’s Law and the fundamental concepts of gas behavior.
7. Balloon Rocket Science
Engaging in the “Balloon Rocket Science” experiment not only sparks curiosity and excitement but also provides a practical application of scientific principles.
Learn more: Balloon Rocket Science for Kids
8. How many Pins to Pop a Balloon?
This captivating experiment offers students a thrilling opportunity to explore the concept of structural integrity and the delicate balance between pressure and resistance.
9. DIY Lung Model
This experiment not only provides a fun and interactive way to learn about the anatomy and function of the respiratory system but also encourages students to explore the concepts of inhalation, exhalation, and gas exchange.
10. Water Fountain Balloon
Get ready to witness a mesmerizing water and air pressure display with the “Water Fountain Balloon” experiment! In this captivating hands-on activity, students will create their miniature water fountain using a balloon and a water bottle.
11. DIY Water Balloon Parachute
Get ready to launch into the world of aerodynamics and gravity with the “DIY Water Balloon Parachute” experiment! This thrilling hands-on activity allows students to design and create their own parachutes using water balloons and various materials.
12. Hot and Cold Balloon Experiment
Through this experiment, students will gain a deeper understanding of how temperature affects the volume and pressure of gases.
Learn more: Hot and Cold Balloon Experiment
13. Deflated Balloon Experiment
Engaging in the “Deflated Balloon” experiment not only fosters a sense of curiosity and wonder but also provides a practical demonstration of scientific principles.
14. Create a Heart Pump Model
This hands-on activity offers students a captivating opportunity to create a model of a working heart pump using balloons.
Learn more: DIY Heart Pump
15. DIY Hovercraft
Get ready to defy gravity and glide on a cushion of air with the “DIY Hovercraft” experiment! This exciting hands-on activity offers students an opportunity to create their very own hovercraft using simple materials.
Learn more: DIY Hovercraft
16. Inflate a Balloon
By combining vinegar and baking soda inside a balloon, students will witness a remarkable reaction that results in the inflation of the balloon.
Learn more: Happy Brown House
17. Sink or Float
By placing these filled balloons into a bucket of water, students can observe and analyze the different behaviors of the balloons—whether they sink or float.
Learn more: 123Homeschool4me
18. Magic Light Bulb
Prepare to witness a truly magical and illuminating experience with the “Magic Light Bulb Balloon Science Experiment”! In this enchanting hands-on activity, students will discover the mesmerizing properties of static electricity and light as they create their very own “magic” light bulb using a balloon.
19. Make a Vortex Cannon
By repurposing a plastic container, such as a large bottle or a trash can, and creating a small opening, students can generate a powerful ring of air known as a vortex.
20. Fireproof Balloon
Experience the astonishing magic of fire resistance with the “Fireproof Balloon” experiment! In this captivating hands-on activity, students will witness the incredible properties of a specially treated balloon that can withstand the heat of an open flame without bursting into flames.
Similar Posts:
- 68 Best Chemistry Experiments: Learn About Chemical Reactions
- Top 100 Fine Motor Skills Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers
- Top 58 Creative Art Activities for Kids and Preschoolers
Leave a Comment Cancel reply
Save my name and email in this browser for the next time I comment.
STEM Little Explorers
Knowing through exploring.
Home » Articles » STEM » STEM Science » 5 amazing Balloon experiments
5 amazing Balloon experiments
Everyone loves balloons and today we will show you how to make them even more fun. how with the science of course. we will show you 5 amazing balloon experiments for demonstrating various scientific principles. fun is guaranteed, article contents.
The brief history of the balloons
First balloons, as archeological findings show, were made from animal intestines , especially from pig bladders . Archeological findings also show that first balloon sculptures were used by Aztecs. They were made from cat intestines and were presented as a sacrifice to the gods.
The first rubber balloon was made in the year 1824 by Professor Michael Faraday. He was using them for experiments he was conducting with the hydrogen. He described the balloons as caoutchouc bags that are highly elastic and that they can expand by forcing the air into them until caoutchouc becomes transparent. He also explains how they, when expanded by hydrogen, become so light that they possess considerable ascending power. Faraday made his first balloons by making two sheets of rubber and connecting the edges of those two sheets to each other. Since the rubber was tacky, he had to put flour in the middle so the rubber does not connect. On edges, the rubber would connect automatically due to its stickiness.
Latex rubber balloons were invented and pioneered in the year 1825 by rubber manufacturer Thomas Hancock. Vulcanized balloons were introduced in the year 1847 by J.G. Ingram and they were the first balloons that were not affected by changes in temperature. Vulcanized balloons are regarded as the prototype of the modern-day balloons.
Modern-day balloons are made from different materials but mostly rubber , latex , polychloroprene, and nylon fabric. Also, we can find today’s balloons in many different shapes, sizes, and colors.
Physics principles of the balloons
We all know that balloons fly. Ok, fall slowly. But did you know there is science behind why is that so? Let’s dive into some physics and explore the principles of why balloons “fly”.
When we inflate the balloon with regular, atmospheric air, the air pressure will become greater than the atmospheric pressure outside of the balloon.
Air pressure actually represents how many particles collide with the surface at any given time. Since there is less space in the balloon, they collide and bounce off the inside surface a lot more than particles from outside do. This happens because of the density . The more particles are in the same space (like in the balloon), the more frequent will they collide with the wall or surface.
To understand why balloons “fly”, it is important to understand how air pressures function. Air pressures outside of the balloon and inside try to even out. The force from the inside of the balloon makes the balloon to expand while the forces from the outside of the balloon make it contract . With this knowledge, we could assume that the balloon with high air pressure would expand until the air pressures are equal inside and outside.
But there is a twist! Balloons posses certain elasticity that plays an important role. Now the air inside needs to have a lot more pressure since it must counteract the elastic membrane of the balloon that tries to return in the original state and the air pressure from the inside. That makes the balloon light and with some gasses like helium even lighter than atmospheric air.
An excellent example of this is the helium balloons. They will raise in the air and as they get higher, the atmospheric pressure gets smaller and smaller. The inside of the balloon exerts more pressure because of that and the balloon will pop from tension. If they don’t pop, helium will leak from pores of the balloon eventually making the balloon to fall down.
Check the video for making all of the activities at the start of the article or continue reading instructions below for each activity if you prefer text description.
1. How to use Science to Blow Up a Balloon
Materials needed for the experiment.
- Vinegar (2 dl)
- Baking Soda (2 spoons)
- Empty Bottle
Experiment Instructions
- Pour 2 dl of vinegar into the empty bottle.
- Put Balloon on the funnel and pour 2 spoons of baking soda into it. If you put more, the reaction will be stronger but there is danger of liquid shooting out of the bottle
- Now put Balloon on the bottle, lift it up, so soda drops into the vinegar. After a few seconds Balloon will be blown.
- Use yarn to tie down Balloon and you are done!
The science behind the experiment
When we mix vinegar and baking soda we produce an acid-base reaction . The baking soda (base) takes one hydrogen proton from the vinegar (acid). That turns vinegar into a different substance called sodium acetate and baking soda into the carbonic acid. Carbonic acid is unstable and quickly separates into carbon dioxide gas and water. The gas rises up and since it needs more space it expands into the balloon.
2. Burning a Balloon without popping it
Materials needed for burning the balloon, instructions for burning the balloon experiment.
- Put the balloon onto the faucet and let it fill with water ( around 2 dL). Blow up the balloon and tie it down. You can also first blow up the balloon then put it on the bottle with water and just fill it.
- Light the candle and bring Balloon over it. The balloon won’t pop! If you try it with an empty balloon it will pop instantly.
The science behind the Burning the Balloon experiment
One of the amazing properties of the water is the ability to soak up the heat . The flame causes water to heat up. That heated water goes up and pushes cooler layer down so it’s heated again. That process happens rapidly and it prevents heat from popping up the balloon. That lasts as long as we don’t heat up all the water, so after some time Balloon will pop. One good real-life example of this is sweating ! When our body is heated, we start to sweat. That is a defensive reaction of our organism, putting a layer of water on us and preventing overheating.
3. Pinning a Balloon
Materials needed for the experiment, instructions for the experiment.
- Blow up the balloon and tie it down.
- If you try putting it on one pin it will pop. Put many pins on the surface (sharp part up) and then try to put Balloon on top of it. It won’t pop!
This is a great experiment to demonstrate one of the findings of Classical Mechanics – distributed pressure . When we put the balloon on one pin, the pressure is concentrated on one spot and it’s easy to break a thin layer of the balloon. However, if we distribute that pressure over the many points on the balloon, the force of any of them is too small to burst the balloon.
4. Balloon on the Stick
Materials needed for the balloon on the stick.
- Wooden Skewer
- Dishwashing liquid
Instructions for the balloon on the stick experiment
- Blow up the Balloon (not fully) and tie it down.
- Look at the Balloon and identify areas where it’s darker (rubber is thicker). One spot is right where you tie down the Balloon and the other is on the opposite side.
- Coat the wooden skewer with dishwashing liquid ( you can also use vaseline) so it feels smooth.
- Pierce the Balloon on one of the spots we previously identified and push it in. Let it come out on the other spot, on the opposite end. You now have Balloon on the stick!
The science behind the balloon on the stick experiment
A balloon is made of rubber, and that rubber consists of a long chain of polymers . Blowing up the balloon stretches these polymer chains. However, there are areas on the balloon where they are stretched more (under greater surface tension ) and where they are stretched less (under less surface tension). We identified these points of less tension, so we can pierce the Balloon on those points. Making small holes on those spots don’t produce enough surface tension for the balloon to burst.
5. Demonstrating Centripetal force
Materials needed for demonstration, instructions for demonstrating centripetal force.
- Insert the coin inside the Balloon. Try to push it as far as you can, but it doesn’t have to go all the way in.
- Shake the Balloon in a circular motion. You will see the coin spinning.
- Stop the motion and the coin will continue its movement for some time.
Warning: this activity is addictive! 😄
The science behind the centripetal force experiment
To move anything, including our coin, we need to input some energy. In this case, our original circular shaking of the balloon supplied needed kinetic energy . The round shape of the balloon forces our coin to move in a circular way, otherwise, it would continue moving forward . There is not that much friction between the coin and the surface of the balloon, so the coin moves for a long time after we stop the motion. But, in time, friction and gravity force out the coin to halt.
Important force here is Centripetal force . This is a center-seeking force that acts on our coin and constantly changes its velocity so it remains in the circular motion. The natural state of all objects is to continue forward motion, but if we apply enough force we can change that. Examples of this ere moons and satellites orbiting planets.
Here gravity acts as a centripetal force. In our coin example, it works because of the friction between our coin and the surface of the balloon. That makes our coin move in a circular path and not just randomly jumping inside of a balloon.
We hope you enjoyed these fun balloon activities. And if you’re searching for more fun STEM experiments that kids will love, you can demonstrate osmosis using gummy bears . Or if you want to see how to raise the water using a candle, check out the candle in the vacuum experiment . And some other similar experiments we would like to recommend are demonstrating light bending and making a dancing grain experiment . And if you still have some balloons that you would like to use, be sure to check how to demonstrate air pressure with balloon activity and how to make an anti-stress ball using the balloon and flour . Happy learning!
If you’re searching for some great STEM Activities for Kids and Child development tips, you’re in the right place! Check the Categories below to find the right activity for you.
STEM Science
Videos, guides and explanations about STEM Science in a step-by-step way with materials you probably already have at your home. Find new Science ideas.
STEM Technology
Videos, guides and explanations about STEM Technology in a step-by-step way with materials you probably already have at your home. Find new Technology ideas.
STEM Engineering
Videos, guides and explanations about STEM Engineering in a step-by-step way with materials you probably already have at your home. New Engineering ideas!
Videos, guides and explanations about STEM Math in a step-by-step way with materials you probably already have at your home. Find new Mathematics ideas.
Find out all about development psychology topics that you always wanted to know. Here are articles from child psychology and development psychology overall.
First year of Child’s Life
Following a Child’s development every month from its birth. Personal experiences and tips on how to cope with challenges that you will face in parenting.
5 thoughts on “ 5 amazing Balloon experiments ”
- Pingback: How To Make Anti-Stress Ball with Balloon and Flour
- Pingback: How to Demonstrate Air Pressure with Balloon - STEM Little Explorers
- Pingback: How to Shrink a Bag with Microwaves? - STEM Little Explorers
- Pingback: 20 Balloon Experiments For the Science Classroom - World News
- Pingback: 20 Balloon Experiments to Make Your Lessons Really Pop | Educational Blog
Leave a Reply Cancel reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Get Fresh news from STEM fields
I'm not interested in STEM
Talk to our experts
1800-120-456-456
- Balloon Experiments
Why Do We Do Experiments?
Science is one of the fascinating subjects among the students of all ages. Do you know why?
It’s because nature is full of enthralling facts. To understand the existence of everything around us, we do experiments.
A Swiss Psychologist Jean Piaget rightly said that the child is a little scientist/investigator. A child is always curious to understand the how and whys of everything; that’s why she searches for a platform where her thoughts can transform into activities. It is a moment when science comes into sight.
Every experiment you do enhances your scientific skills and strengthens your ability to tackle real-life situations.
Dear science buddies, by keeping your interest as the priority, we are going to perform the balloon experiment. Now, let’s see the list of balloon experiments that will make your lessons bang.
Balloon Experiments Physics
Balloon rocket experiment.
This experiment is an application of Newton’s laws of motion.
Blow up a Balloon without using your Mouth.
This experiment will help you learn chemical reactions by acids and bases.
Designing a Balloon-powered Vehicle: Car
Through these activities, you can explore Newton’s laws of motion. Also, you will learn the significance of using recyclable items.
Spear a Balloon without Popping it
This experiment will help students learn about polymers and how to stay relaxed in stressful situations.
Now, let’s understand the step-by-step instructions to perform the balloon experiment.
Aim: To understand the application of Newton’s second and the third law of motion.
Tools/Materials Required
Few Balloons
Inflation Pump
Kite string
Adhesive tape
Instructions
Cut the straw into two-halves and pass one end of a kite string through one-half.
Bind one end of a string to a chair/door/window and another end to a distant object at some height horizontally. Make sure that the string is tied firmly.
Now, blow your balloon. Hold it with fingers to prevent the release of air.
Fix your balloon with a straw (in a tied string) using adhesive tape.
Now, release your balloon, and it will run like a rocket along the string.
[Image will be uploaded soon]
Blow up a Balloon Without Using Your Mouth
Aim: To understand how a chemical reaction occurs between acids and bases.
A Tiny Soda B ottle
Baking Soda
Vinegar (You may use apple cider vinegar)
Pour 1/3rd of vinegar solution into the soda bottle using a funnel.
Now, wash the funnel properly and place two teaspoons of a baking soda into the funnel so that it falls into the balloon.
Secure the mouth of this balloon over the top of a soda bottle, as shown below:
Next, let the baking soda fall into the bottle, as shown below:
Here the magic comes! We can observe that the reaction between baking soda and vinegar creates foam, which inflates the balloon. You can see below how it happened.
[Image will be uploaded soon]
Designing a Balloon Powered Vehicle: Car
Aim: To understand how to build a balloon-powered car and use air pressure to run it on the floor.
Pair of scissors
Rigid cardboard/foam core
Four bottle caps
Use a ruler to measure two 7 cm pieces on a straw and cut it into two halves.
Cut the cardboard with a measurement of 6.5 cm x 17 cm. Securely tape the two straws to the underside of the base. These straws will hold the axles. Arrange these straws parallel to each other to lie perpendicular to the centerline of the cardboard base.
Cut the ring end of the balloon and see the further step.
Flip the cardboard, slide the straw into the balloon with tape to make an airtight connection.
Make a hole in a bottle cap, cut the sharp ends of two skewers. Now, these skewers will work as an axle, slide these into the perfectly centered holes of caps (wheels).
Turn the cardboard again and attach two pairs of wheels. Be certain that they are perfectly parallel to each other, as shown in the image below:
[Image will be uploaded soon]
Now, blow air in the pipe, and the balloon inflates, and the car moves. We can see the final arrangement in the image below:
Spear a Balloon without Popping it
Aim: To understand how we can pierce a balloon without popping it.
Tools Required
Inflate a balloon approximately to full size; let 1/3rd of air out and tie a knot in its open end.
Carefully examine the balloon and find a thick area; this will be the place where you will pierce the balloon with a wooden skewer.
Now, coat the skewer with a lubricant such as a vegetable oil/dish soap.
Push the sharpened end of a skewer to the thick area of the balloon and slide it till you reach its opposite end.
Gently, remove the skewer; you will observe that the air will leak, but the balloon won’t crack.
Build a Balloon-Powered Car
A zippy science activity
By Science Buddies & Ben Finio
Start your (balloon) engines! Learn how you can power a toy car with air--and a little knowledge of physics. Then challenge a friend to a race!
George Retseck
Key concepts Physics Kinetic energy Potential energy Conservation of energy Newton's laws of motion
Introduction Turn a pile of trash into a toy car—and watch it go! In this activity you will learn some physics concepts and use recycled materials to build a toy car that is propelled by a balloon. You can even find a friend, build two cars and race them against each other. Whose car will go the fastest?
Background It might not seem like it at first, but a simple balloon car is loaded with physics and engineering concepts! When you inflate a balloon, it stores potential energy in the form of stretched rubber and the compressed air inside. When you release the balloon, this energy is converted to kinetic energy—the energy of motion—as the balloon zooms around the room. Some of the energy is also converted to heat due to friction. According to the law of conservation of energy, the total amount of energy is conserved. Energy never “disappears”—it just changes to another form.
On supporting science journalism
If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing . By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.
Another way to think about the balloon's movement is to use Newton's third law of motion: For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. When you inflate a balloon and then release the nozzle, the rubber contracts and pushes the air out the nozzle. This means that there must be an equal and opposite reaction—the air pushes back on the rubber, propelling the balloon forward. This principle is used in real rockets and jets that shoot a high-speed stream of gases out the back of their engines, propelling the vehicle forward. In this project you will use this principle to build a toy car that is propelled forward by the stream of air escaping a balloon as it deflates.
The car also contains a simple machine: the wheel and axle. This invention has been around so long, we take it for granted—and many of us ride in wheeled vehicles every day. You will see, however, getting your wheel and axle to spin smoothly is a critical part of getting your balloon car to work!
Plastic bottle
Four plastic bottle caps
Wooden skewer
Scissors or sharp knife (Have an adult use or supervise your use of this tool.)
An adult helper
Preparation
Cut one of the straws in half.
Tape both pieces of the straw to one side of the water bottle.
Cut the wooden skewer in half and push each piece through one of the straws. These will form your axles. (Have an adult help.)
Have an adult help use the scissors to poke a “+”-shaped hole directly in the center of each plastic bottle cap.
Press each bottle cap onto the ends of the wooden skewers. These will form your wheels.
Put your car down on a flat surface and give it a good push. Make sure the car rolls easily and coasts for a bit before stopping. If your car gets stuck or does not roll smoothly make sure: your axles are parallel to each other; the hole in each bottle cap is centered; and the straws are securely taped to the water bottle and do not wobble. You can add some glue if tape is not sufficient.
Tape the neck of the balloon around one end of the other straw. Wrap the tape very tightly so the connection is airtight.
Cut a small hole in the top of the water bottle, just big enough to push the straw through.
Push the free end of the straw through the hole and out the mouth of the bottle.
Use tape to secure the straw to the bottle.
Blow through the straw to inflate the balloon, then put your finger over the tip of the straw to trap the air. What do you think will happen when you put the car down and release your finger?
Put the car down on a flat surface and release your finger. What happens?
See what adjustments you can make to make the car go farther.
What happens if you inflate the balloon more?
What happens if you adjust the direction the straw is aimed? Does it work best if the straw is aimed straight back?
Extra: There are many different ways to build a balloon car. Turn this into an engineering design project and try building your car with different materials. For example: What happens if you use a cardboard box instead of a plastic bottle for the body? What happens if you use different diameter straws? What about different materials for the wheels and axles? Get some friends and try building different cars and racing them against one another. What materials work the best?
Observations and results When you inflate a balloon and let it go, it zips randomly around the room. When you tape the balloon to a straw and attach it to the body of your car, however, you can control the direction of the escaping air. When the end of the straw is aimed backward, the air pushes your car forward, as described by Newton's third law of motion. Your design will be most efficient if the straw is pointed straight back and not downward or to the side. The more you inflate the balloon the more potential energy it stores, which in turn is converted to more kinetic energy, according to the law of conservation of energy—so the car will go faster.
You may find your car does not work perfectly on the first try, particularly if its axles are not parallel or the wheels wobble. Too much friction can cause the wheels to get stuck, and the balloon will not be powerful enough to push the car forward. Test your car to make sure the wheels spin freely and, when you give it a push, the car rolls easily. If not, you might need to make some adjustments to your design. You should also make sure no air escapes the balloon where it is taped to the straw, and re-tape it more tightly if necessary.
More to explore Balloon-Powered Car Challenge , from Science Buddies Newton's Laws of Motion , from Physics4Kids Under Pressure: Launch a Balloon Rocket , from Scientific American Science Activities for All Ages! , from Science Buddies
This activity brought to you in partnership with Science Buddies
-->
 Short explanationLong explanation.
 Straw rocket launcher Plastic bag parachute Straw propeller Screaming dry ice Dry ice in a balloon Special: Dry ice color change Dry ice smoking soap bubble snake Dry ice giant crystal ball bubble Dry ice in water Rainbow milk Gummy bear osmosis Floating ping pong ball Rotating Earth Special: Colored fire Special: Fire bubbles Water cycle in a jar Egg drop challenge Taking the pulse Orange candle Glass bottle xylophone Warped spacetime Homemade rainbow Water implosion Warm and cold plates Plastic bag kite Tamed lightning Yeast and a balloon Forever boiling bottle Moon on a pen Moon in a box Inexhaustible bottle Crystal egg geode Magic ice cut Leaf pigments chromatography Heavy smoke Popsicle stick bridge Micrometeorites Special: Fire tornado Special: Whoosh bottle Dancing water marbles Brownian motion Flying static ring Water thermometer String telephone Special: Dust explosion Disappearing styrofoam Special: Burning money Special: Burning towel Salt water purifier Fish dissection Hovering soap bubble Homemade sailboat Water mass meeting Plastic bag and pencils Water sucking bottle Water sucking glass Mentos and coke Aristotle's illusion Spinning spiral snake Imploding soda can Carbon dioxide extuingisher Dental impression Impact craters Rolling static soda can Static paper ghost Color changing flower Upside down glass Shrinking chip bag Solar system model Strawberry DNA Electric motor Flashy electric motor Bouncing soap bubbles Toilet paper roll maraca Cloud in a bottle 1 Cloud in a bottle 2 Balloon rocket Water whistle Homemade yogurt Special: Screaming gummy bear Homemade compass Trash airplane Wind-up spinner toy Tea bag rocket Balancing soda can Lung volume test Fireproof balloon Baking powder popper Expanding space Wooden cutlery Levitating match Human reflexes Electromagnet Soil layers Straw potato Traveling flame Water bowls Straw duck call Solar eclipse Silo of salt Balloon skewer Newspaper tower Microwave light bulb Heavy paper Rubber chicken bone Homemade marble run Drops on a coin Cartesian diverContent of website.  Science Fun Water Balloon Physics Force And Motion Science ExperimentIn this fun and easy science experiment, we’re going to explore and investigate force and motion by tossing water balloons.
Instructions:
EXPLORE AWESOME SCIENCE EXPERIMENT VIDEOS! How it Works:When you lift the balloon to toss it, you give it potential energy. This potential energy become kinetic energy once the balloon is tossed. Eventually the kinetic energy can not be contained by the balloon and the balloon will pop. Make This A Science Project:Try different sized balloons. Try different temperatures of water in the balloons. EXPLORE TONS OF FUN AND EASY SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS! SUBSCRIBE AND NEVER MISS A NEW SCIENCE FUN VIDEO! previous experimentNext experiment. Get Your ALL ACCESS Shop Pass here →  Screaming Balloon ExperimentThis screaming balloon experiment is an awesome physics activity for young kids and older ones, too! With a few simple supplies, you can explore centripetal force or how objects travel a circular path. Physics doesn’t have to be complex or difficult! We have loads more fun STEM activities for you to try!  What else can you do with balloons? Try our favorite baking soda and vinegar balloon experiment ! 💡 Check out all our chemistry experiments and physics experiments ! Click here to get your free printable balloon project! INSTRUCTIONS: How to set up the balloon experimentSTEP 1: Stretch out your balloon.  STEP 2: Drop the hex nut inside and inflate the balloon. Be careful not to blow up the balloon too big as it will pop.  STEP 3: Tie the end to seal the balloon. STEP 4: Hold the balloon at the stem end in your hand like a bowling ball and begin to spin it in a circular motion. What do you hear? What does the hex nut do?  Balloon Experiment ScienceWhat happens to the hex nut in the balloon when you spin the balloon around? The hex nut may bounce around at first, but it soon begins to roll around the inside of the balloon. It is the round shape of the balloon that causes the hex nut to move in a circular path. The force at work here is ‘centripetal force’. It is a force placed on a body that makes it follow a curved path. What about the screaming sound? The hex nut has six sides with flat edges, which cause the hex nut to bounce or vibrate inside the balloon. The screaming sound you hear is caused by the sides of the nut vibrating against the inside wall of the balloon. Extend the activity by varying the shape of the balloon or the type of object inside the balloon. Can you make a sound with other objects? More Balloon Experiments More Fun Physics ExperimentsHelpful science resources to get you started. Here are a few resources that will help you introduce science more effectively to your kiddos or students and feel confident yourself when presenting materials. You’ll find helpful free printables throughout.
Printable Science Projects For KidsIf you’re looking to grab all of our printable science projects in one convenient place plus exclusive worksheets and bonuses like a STEAM Project pack, our Science Project Pack is what you need! Over 300+ Pages!
 Subscribe to receive a free 5-Day STEM Challenge Guide~ projects to try now ~.   Suggested Searches
Humans in SpaceEarth & climate, the solar system, the universe, aeronautics.
News & Events Hubble Examines a Busy Galactic Center NASA Earth Scientists Take Flight, Set Sail to Verify PACE Satellite Data What’s Up: September 2024 Skywatching Tips from NASA
NASA en Español
 NASA Invites Social Creators to Experience Launch of Europa Clipper Mission Persevering Through the Storm NASA’s Hubble, MAVEN Help Solve the Mystery of Mars’ Escaping Water NASA Astronaut Don Pettit’s Science of Opportunity on Space Station NASA, Boeing Optimizing Vehicle Assembly Building High Bay for Future SLS Stage Production NASA Seeks Input for Astrobee Free-flying Space Robots NASA Summer Camp Inspires Future Climate Leaders NASA Mission Gets Its First Snapshot of Polar Heat Emissions Artemis IV: Gateway Gadget Fuels Deep Space Dining NASA’s Webb Reveals Distorted Galaxy Forming Cosmic Question Mark NASA’s Mini BurstCube Mission Detects Mega Blast NASA Tunnel Generates Decades of Icy Aircraft Safety Data Research Plane Dons New Colors for NASA Hybrid Electric Flight Tests NASA G-IV Plane Will Carry Next-Generation Science Instrument OSAM-1 Partnership Opportunity: Request for Information NASA to Support DARPA Robotic Satellite Servicing Program NASA JPL Developing Underwater Robots to Venture Deep Below Polar Ice Learn Math with NASA Science Eclipses Create Atmospheric Gravity Waves, NASA Student Teams Confirm La NASA invita a los medios al lanzamiento de Europa Clipper El X-59 de la NASA avanza en las pruebas de preparación para volar La NASA invita a creadores de las redes sociales al lanzamiento de la misión Europa ClipperNasa scientific balloon takes flight with student-built payloads.  Olivia F. Littleton NASA’s Scientific Balloon Program’s fifth balloon mission of the 2024 fall campaign took flight Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, from the agency’s Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility in Fort Sumner, New Mexico. The HASP 1.0 (High-Altitude Student Platform) mission remained in flight over 11 hours before it safely touched down. Recovery is underway. HASP is a partnership among the Louisiana Space Grant Consortium , the Astrophysics Division of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, and the agency’s Balloon Program Office and Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility. The HASP platform supports up to 12 student-built payloads and is designed to flight test compact satellites, prototypes, and other small experiments. Since 2006, HASP has engaged more than 1,600 undergraduate and graduate students involved in the missions. Teams participating in the 2024 HASP 1.0 flight included: University of North Florida and University of North Dakota; Arizona State University; Louisiana State University; University of Colorado Boulder; College of the Canyons; Fort Lewis College; Capitol Technical College; University of Arizona; Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería (Peru); and McMaster University (Canada). A new, larger version of the High-Altitude Student Platform (HASP 2.0) had its engineering test flight a few days prior. HASP 2.0 will be able to accommodate twice as many student experiments as HASP 1.0 once operational in the next year. The remaining three balloon flights scheduled for the 2024 Fort Sumner fall campaign await next launch opportunities. To follow the missions, visit NASA’s Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility website for real-time updates on balloons altitudes and GPS locations during flight. For more information on NASA’s Scientific Balloon Program, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/scientificballoons Related Terms
|
COMMENTS
Balloon Magic with Bernoulli's Principle | STEM Activity
The same laws of physics put rockets to work carrying cargo. In this experiment you will use a . stopwatch . to . measure the time . ... (7-9 inch diameter) balloon for Experiment 1. Twelve inch balloons have more air resistance at larger volumes, but feel free to experiment. The following table provides examples of starting points, whether you ...
A Balloon that Flies like a Rocket
Happy Brown House. 14. Power a light bulb with static electricity. One of the first balloon experiments most kids try is rubbing a balloon on their hair to make their hair stand on end. The next step is to hold the balloon over a compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) to see it glow from the static electricity.
Step 2: Insert a straw in the balloon. Blow up a balloon to stretch it out and then let it deflate. Insert a smoothie straw through the neck of the balloon. Push it almost all the way to the other end of the balloon. Wrap a rubber band around the neck of the balloon to keep the straw in place.
Balloons can be used in a wide range of student hands-on science projects. From powering a car or propelling a hovercraft to enabling exploration of rocket science, kids can experiment with physics, aerodynamics, and more using ordinary balloons. These Science Buddies projects, activities, and Lesson Plans use balloons:
We recommend using the latest version of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge. Why does a balloon stick to your sweater? Rub a balloon on a sweater, then let go of the balloon and it flies over and sticks to the sweater. View the charges in the sweater, balloons, and the wall.
Step 1: Feed one end of the string through the straw. Step 2. Tape tape or tie one side of the string to a fixed object such as a chair. The object can be high or low. It is fun to experiment to see how high the balloon rocket can go. If there are extra helper kids, two kids can hold each end of the string instead of taping it to a chair. Step 3.
The mechanical force that pushes a rocket or aircraft through the air is known as thrust. In this experiment, you'll make a balloon rocket that is propelled by pressure. Pressure is the amount of force exerted on an area. When you blow up the balloon, you are filling it with gas particles.
Cut your straw in half. Thread the two bits of straw onto the string and then tie the string to two secure points somewhere in the room. When you tie it make sure the there's a little bit of tension in the string. Cut two short lengths of tape and place the middle of them on each bit of straw. These will hold the balloon in place.
Pop a balloon with an orange peel! Simple Science Experiment! Watch on. By carefully peeling an orange and using the peel to pop a balloon, students will explore the intriguing world of chemical reactions and pressure. 2. The Magnifying Glass Balloon Pop Experiment. Mystery Balloon Pop - Sick Science! #190.
Newton's Third Law of Motion states that every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Learn how a balloon rocket demonstrates this principle at: www.sci...
The brief history of the balloons 2. Physics principles of the balloons 3. 1. How to use Science to Blow Up a Balloon 3.1. Materials needed for the Experiment 3.2. Experiment Instructions 3.3. The science behind the experiment 4. 2. Burning a Balloon without popping it 4.1. Materials needed for Burning the Balloon 4.2. Instructions for Burning ...
Make a Balloon Powered Car | Science Project
Balloon Experiments Physics. Balloon Rocket Experiment. This experiment is an application of Newton's laws of motion. Blow up a Balloon without using your Mouth. This experiment will help you learn chemical reactions by acids and bases. Designing a Balloon-powered Vehicle: Car .
Note: Blow the balloon up a couple times to stretch it out. Assemble the Chassis and Suspension: a. Cut the straw into two pieces. The length should be equal to the width of the water bottle. b. Tape the two straw pieces underneath the water bottle where you feel the front and rear wheels should go.
Pull just the balloon's nozzle through the cardboard ring, keeping it clipped shut. Thread another balloon partially through the cardboard ring. Make sure its nozzle is facing the same direction as the first balloon. Note that the first balloon you inflated will be the second stage of your rocket, and vice versa.
Tape the neck of the balloon around one end of the other straw. Wrap the tape very tightly so the connection is airtight. Cut a small hole in the top of the water bottle, just big enough to push ...
The balloon rocket illustrates Newton's third law of motion. It states that for each force there is an equally strong and opposite reaction force. In this case, the air inside the rocket, through the collisions of the air molecules (air pressure), exerts a net force on the front inside wall of the balloon. The opposing force is the push back on ...
STEP 3: Fully inflate the long balloon. Using the tape, attach the balloon to the straw. STEP 4: Release the balloon and observe. Provide evidence of the effects of balanced and unbalanced forces on the motion of the balloon. STEP 5: Pull the balloon and straw to one end of the string. Inflate the balloon half of the way. Release the balloon ...
In this fun and easy science experiment, we're going to explore and investigate force and motion by tossing water balloons. Materials: Water filled balloons Friend Instructions: Stand facing each other from a few feet away and toss the water filled balloon to your friend. Once your friend catches the balloon, take one step backwards. As you get further away from one another, take note of how ...
INSTRUCTIONS: How to set up the balloon experiment. STEP 1: Stretch out your balloon. STEP 2: Drop the hex nut inside and inflate the balloon. Be careful not to blow up the balloon too big as it will pop. STEP 3: Tie the end to seal the balloon. STEP 4: Hold the balloon at the stem end in your hand like a bowling ball and begin to spin it in a ...
8 Amazing Balloon Science Experiments To Do At Home. Hope You Like This Video. If You Like This Video Please Share Your Friends.*To Get More Interesting Vide...
NASA's Scientific Balloon Program's fifth balloon mission of the 2024 fall campaign took flight Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, from the agency's Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility in Fort Sumner, New Mexico. The HASP 1.0 (High-Altitude Student Platform) mission remained in flight over 11 hours before it safely touched down. Recovery is underway.