Balloon Powered Vehicle
Date: _______
Lockview High School
Name________________
Technology Education
*(Please Place This In Your Assignment Section)
Tec. Ed. 9
(** DUE DATE: ____________)
TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGY CHALLENGE
‘The
Balloon Vehicle’
Introduction:
*You may get help from family and friends.
*Research www.sites on the Internet about this topic. (Have lots of fun!)
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 need to use the six-step problem solving process in the design and
production of your vehicle.
Problem:
“TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGY CHALLENGE”
**Design and produce a vehicle to transport itself across the Modular Lab floor, the
greatest distance (measured in a straight line). The ONLY source of energy to be
used is a balloon.
Materials:
(Suggested List)
Max. 22.5 cm inflated round balloons (1)
Coat hangers
Dowel rods
Hot melt glue/Elmer’s wood glue
Nails/Nuts/bolts/screws
Paper towel/toilet paper rolls
Two-liter bottles
Used CDs for wheels
Wood/Metal/Plastic
Styrofoam/Cardboard
Tools/Equipment: You may wish to use:
A Hot melt glue gun
A Drill
Hand tools (hammer, screwdriver, pliers, etc)
Others:
CONCEPTS:
The problem solving process involves six steps:
a. Define the problem clearly
b. Set goals (desired results)
c. Develop alternative solutions
d. Select the best solution
e. Implement the solution (use it)
f. Evaluate and adjust
NOTE:
1. Transportation takes place in four environments (land, air, water, and space).
2. Propulsion systems consist of: a source of energy, a conversion system and a
transmission system.
3. This activity should cover basic scientific/technological principles.
SPECIFICATIONS:
1. The results must be a land transportation vehicle.
2. The balloon is to remain the ONLY energy source. NO other energy sources
may be added or substituted.
3. On race day, each vehicle will run three times and the distance traveled will be
measured in a straight line to the front of the vehicle. Longest distances and an
average distance will be recorded.
TecEd9
EVALUATION RUBRIC
The following are required:
Balloon powered vehicle worksheet
30 pts.
Balloon powered vehicle performance
20 pts.
Balloon powered vehicle designs
30pts.
Creativity, originality, workmanship)
40 pts.
Vocabulary Terms.
40 pts.
_____________
Total = 160 pts.
Mr.Shreenan
**In addition, winners of each of the following will receive additional points.
Longest distance in the class
Longest average distance (3 races)
Most creative (voted by class)
Best built vehicle (voted by class)
Possible:
10 pts.
10 pts.
10 pts.
10 pts.
+40 pts.
Balloon Vehicle Worksheet
1.Explain in a step-by-step manner how you built your vehicle.
2.Describe what problems you ran into when building your vehicle.
3.Look at the designs for your vehicle and your actual vehicle. How are these
designs similar?
How are these designs different?
4.How did your solution (your vehicle) turn out? What changes would you make if
you had to build it again?
5.Explain what you learned in the process of creating your vehicle. (**Try to use
some of the vocabulary words when explaining.)
6.Explain why you liked or disliked working on this activity. (Use extra paper to
finish, if necessary.)
Balloon Vehicle Vocabulary (Please Define The Following Words At Home)
1.Potential Energy--2.Kinetic Energy--3.Competition--4.Technology--5.Motion--6.Improvise--7.Aerodynamic--8.Imagination--9.Balance--10.Friction---
11.Creativity
12.Invention--13.Original--14.Design--15.Energy--16.Industry--17.Vision--18.Pneumatic--19.Measurement--20.Safety---
Balloon Vehicle Performance
Race #1: __________Distance
Race #2: __________Distance
Race #3: _________ Distance
Average Distance: _______________
BALLOON VEHICLE DESIGN
**In the space below, draw in Isometric 3-D or a 3 View Drawing (in detail) of your
best balloon vehicle idea. Label all parts.
**At the bottom of this paper, tell what materials you needed to complete your
project.