Balloon Powered Toy Car Project

thingiverse

https://youtu.be/OhW0Gq-fyZk This 8th grade science / engineering project showcases Newton's 3rd Law of Motion in action. It can also be used as part of a unit on pressure or energy transformation. A Tinkercad starter file is available for students to design and build their own vehicle: https://www.tinkercad.com/things/8ypnFTAvX11-balloon-rocket-car-starter-kit Watch the car in action here: Standards NGSS Overview and Background This was an 8th grade project that taught Newton's Laws of Motion. Students designed a 3D printable toy car powered by a balloon, demonstrating Newton's 3rd Law. Lesson Plan and Activity Print wheels ahead of time so students only need to make the body. We used bamboo skewers from the supermarket as axles, which come in different sizes - we used 10-inch ones that fit snugly into wheels with a central hole of 3.5mm diameter. The car body needs a raised connector for the balloon and a pipe to redirect air out the back. It also requires holes of 5 mm diameter for the axles. After printing, attach a balloon to the connector by blowing into the end of the pipe at the back. This is easier than inflating the balloon separately and attaching it to the car. When released, the air pushes the car forward. Students can decorate their cars with paint or markers. Results and Lessons Learned This project was successful, with all students producing a working balloon-powered car. Tips for success: Cut bamboo skewers with scissors and trim ends at an angle for easier fitting into wheels. Use shorter segments to avoid accidents. Check fit before printing many wheels, as skewers vary in size. Pointy end is a safety hazard when fitting skewers into wheels - cut it off first if necessary. Avoid short car bodies that can make the wheels interfere with each other and cause the car to move erratically. Some students made their air pipes exit at an upward angle, causing the car to do a wheelie. Ensure the pipe exits horizontally or attaches a nozzle for proper airflow direction. Using the torus generator on Tinkercad helps create 90-degree turns in air pipes. Make the balloon connector larger than necessary, as it will stretch over time. Use twist ties to secure balloons when needed. Materials Needed Bamboo skewers, balloons