Balloon Vehicle
Introduction:
The air rushing out of a balloon pushes the balloon in the opposite direction from the airflow. This is called propulsion. All transportation vehicles have some type of propulsion system. Propulsion systems consist of a source of energy, a way of converting that energy into useful power, and a way of transmitting the power to move the vehicle. In this activity, you will design, build, test, and race a transportation vehicle that uses a balloon as the only energy source. You will use the engineering design process in the design and production of your vehicle.
Engineering Design Challenge:
Design and produce a vehicle to transport itself across the ground the greatest distance (measured in a straight line). The ONLY source of energy to be used is the air from a nine inch round balloon.
Specifications:
1. The result must be a land transportation vehicle (a means of carrying freight, passengers, etc. across the ground).
2. The balloon provided is to remain the ONLY energy source. No additional energy sources may be added.
3. On race day, each vehicle will be run three times and the distance traveled will be measured in a straight line to the front axle. Longest distance and an average distance will be recorded.
Materials: (that I have available)
9 inch round balloons (two provided by me)
coat hangers
dowel rods
hot melt glue/Elmer’s glue
nails/nuts/bolts/screws
paper towel/toilet paper rolls
two-liter bottles
wood/metal/plastic
Styrofoam/cardboard
Concepts:
1. Transportation takes place in four environments - land, air, water, and space.
2. A propulsion system is the system that makes a vehicle move.
3. This activity should cover basic scientific/technological principles such as: potential and kinetic energy; friction; power to weight ratios; and alignment.
Evaluation:
1. The following are required:
- vehicle design
- creativity 10 pts
- workmanship 10 pts
- vehicle performance (distance) 10 pts
· Car Moves over 20 feet = 10/10 pts
· Car Moves over 15 feet but less than 20 feet = 9/10 pts
· Car Moves over 10 feet but less than 15 feet = 8/10 pts
· Car Moves over 5 feet but less than 10 feet = 7/10 pts
· Car Moves but less than 5 feet = 6/10 pts
· Car is Built and there on Race Day But Does Not Move = 5/10 pts
· Student has No Car on Race Day = 0/10 pts
- data sheet (distances, average calculation) 5 pts
- engineering design process log sheet 20 pts
Total = 55 pts
2. In addition, winners of each of the following will receive additional points:
- Longest distance in the class 5 pts
- Longest average distance in the class (after 3 races) 5 pts
- Most creative (as voted by the class) 5 pts
- Best built (as voted by the class) 5 pts