Name: __________________________
Date: ________________
Class Section: ______
Balloon Powered Race Cars
Objectives:

Create a balloon-powered racecar designed for maximum speed and distance.

Incorporate mechanics and Newton's Laws of Motion.

Assess efficacy of car design and communicate findings in a scientific lab report.
Materials:

Research collection tool.

Data collection tool.

1x 9 inch balloon.

Various materials used in car construction. (recycled bottle caps, recycled cardboard)
o Note: All materials that can be recycled will be after the project is complete.

Sample lab report

Lab report grading rubric

Lab report template.
Rules:

The car must be powered by no more than 1, 9 inch balloon.

You can build the car out of anything.

It must have at least three wheels. Wheels are defined as anything that is round and goes
around. (The wheels CANNOT be wheels from a toy car. They must be made out of something
that was not originally meant to be used as wheels.)

The car may not leave the ground.

The car must be capable of traveling at least 3 meters.
Page 1

Group work is required for in-class research, but cars must be built individually with materials
from home.
Timeline:

Research days: Monday, Dec 3 – Friday Dec 7

Build days: Monday Dec 10 – Wednesday Dec 12

Car test days: Thursday Dec 14 – Friday Dec 15

Lab report drafting: Monday Dec 17 – Friday, Dec 21

Presentation drafting: Winter holiday Dec 24 – Jan 1

Final draft lab report due Jan 14
Task: After learning about the basics motion (distance, speed, acceleration, etc) you
will design and test a balloon-powered car built for maximum speed. You must explain
the reasoning behind your design based on concepts covered in the unit. You will write
a scientific lab report to discuss and communicate your findings.
Quick Write: What are your reactions to the task at this point in time? (Do you feel confident
that you can do this project? What are some things you are excited about? What are you nervous
about? What are some problems that you think might come up?)
K
W
L
Page 2
Page 3
Active Reading and Note taking: How do the forces of friction and drag affect a car?
Bibliographic
Information
Major Concept: What is it? How
does it work?
Facts or examples from the article
that support the concept.
Application to balloonpowered car.
George, Patrick E. How
Aerodynamics Work.
How Stuff Works
(2012). Retrieved
November 30, 2012
from
http://auto.howstuffwor
ks.com/fuelefficiency/fueleconomy/aerodynamics
.htm
Nice, Karim. How
Brakes Work. How
Stuff Works (2012).
Retrieved November
30, 2012 from
http://auto.howstuffwor
ks.com/fuelefficiency/fueleconomy/aerodynamics
.htm
Page 4
Background Information: How do the following concepts from physics classwork affect the
motion of a balloon-powered car?
Concept
Definition
Application
Speed
How fast something moves. A rate described as
distance traveled divided by time.
The amount of time my car takes to travel the 3
meter minimum will tell me how fast the car
went. I will want to make my car take the least
amount of time possible to cover the distance
required.
Newton’s 1st Law
Newton’s 2nd Law
Newton’s 3rd Law
Page 5
Active Research: How do the following materials affect the motion of a balloon-powered car and
why?
Material Description
Car Part (Circle)
Observations
Conclusions & Explanations
Chassis
Wheels
Axle
Chassis
Wheels
Axle
Chassis
Wheels
Axle
Page 6
Chassis
Wheels
Axle
Active Research: How do the following materials affect the motion of a balloon-powered car and
why?
Material Description
Car Part (Circle)
Observations
Conclusions & Explanations
Chassis
Wheels
Axle
Chassis
Wheels
Axle
Page 7
Chassis
Wheels
Axle
Chassis
Wheels
Axle
Page 8
Balloon Racer Project Lab Sheet
Introduction: You will be designing a balloon-powered race car built
for maximum speed. The distance traveled and speed of your
racer depends on several factors. All students will be using the
same materials, but how careful you are in making your car will determine how fast
your car will move. In addition to practicing calculating distance, time, and speed, you
will be changing 2 factors on your car to see how it affects the distance travelled and
the speed. You will be changing the amount of air in your balloon and how much
weight is on your car.
Scientific Question (as a class):
Your Hypothesis: If…
then…
Introduction Pre-Lab Questions:
1) What is the purpose of this project/experiment? How does it connect to what
you have been learning over the past 2 weeks?
2) True or False: Each group will have different materials and some groups will
get materials that will make their cars go faster.
If it is false,
explain what will actually determine which cars go the fastest:
Page 9
3) What specifically about the making of your car do you think will help it go the
fastest? (remember everyone is making the same ones)
4) What are the two independent variables in the experiment? (remember the IV
is what you are changing about your car)
IV 1:
IV 2:
5) What are the dependent variables in the experiment? (remember the DV is
what you are measuring—your results)
DV 1:
which will be used to calculate
DV 2:
Materials List:
Materials Pre-Lab:
Re-write your materials for your car here:
Car-Building Procedure:
Page 10
1. You will add a mount to put your axles (wooden skewers) through so they can turn. To do this, mount the two 3"
sections of straw across the underside of the chassis (make sure they are exactly straight across—not at an
angle) and use tape to tape them securely down.
2. A car is nothing without axles. Given the size of your car, wooden barbeque skewers will make perfect axles.
Slide the wooden skewers through the middle of the straws.
3. Axles are great, but humans invented the wheel for a reason. The wheel was invented for use on the Balloon
Powered Car! Carefully push your 4 wheels (water bottle caps) onto the skewers through the pre-made holes,
one on each end of both skewers.
Anyone who has ever built a car from scratch will tell you that the engine is the most complicated piece, and the balloon
powered car is no different. Hope you're ready!
4. For the exhaust pipe, insert a straw approximately 1" into the balloon. Use tape to securely attach the straw inside the
balloon. Make sure the seal is tight, or else air will leak out!
5. Mount the exhaust pipe on your car so that the point where the straw and balloon connect is about 1" from the end of
your chassis. Secure the straw so that it points straight out behind your car.
Car Building Pre-Lab Questions:
1) After reading the procedure, draw a picture of how the underside of your card should look.
Make sure you have the mount straws/axle going straight across the chassis (body), not at an
angle.
2) How far into the balloon should the straw go? What do you need to do after you put the straw
in?
3) How much of the straw should lie on the car before it sticks out behind the car?
4) Why do you need to make sure the straw points straight back? (think about the direction you
want your car to go)
Car-Testing Procedure:
1. Every balloon needs to be blown up to the same volume. To measure, hold your pre-marked
measuring tool straight up from the body (chassis) of your car. Inflate the balloon by blowing air
into the exhaust pipe until the top of the balloon reaches mark 1 on the measuring tool. Pinch the
straw to hold the air inside the balloon.
2. To race your car, place the front of your car on the start line—the 0 meter mark on the floor. When
ready, release the exhaust pipe to allow the air to escape the balloon. At the same time you
release the straw, have the Timer start the stopwatch.
3. Stop the timer once the front of the car hits the 3 meter mark on the track. Record the time in Data
Table 1.
4. After running two trials and recording the time for each trial, calculate the average speed for each
trial run.
Page 11
Car Testing Pre-Lab Questions:
1) How do you know how much to blow up your balloon?
2) What should you do as soon as you fill up the balloon this much?
3) Describe how you will measure the time your car is moving? Why is it important to start and
stop the watch at exactly the correct times?
4) How many trials are you going to do?
5) What is the equation to calculate speed?
Give your car a name! _____________________________________________
Problem: Design the fastest and farthest traveling balloon racer.
Individual Data
Round 1:
Mass of car ___________ kg
Speed Trial
Distance (m)
Trial 1
Trial 2
Average
3
3
3
Trial 2
Average
Time (s)
Speed (m/s)
Distance Trial
Trial 1
Distance (m)
Page 12
Observations: Draw a neat, full colored diagram of your car in motion and show which
direction the balloon air was going, and which direction your car was moving
Post-Lab Questions
Class Data
#
Car Name
Car Mass (kg)
Average Speed (m/s)
Average Distance (m)
Page 13
Follow Up & Conclusions: Use your understanding of Newton three laws of motion and
real-world forces to explain…
(1) exactly how the balloons caused a force to move the car.
Page 14
(2) why your car went faster or slower than other cars.
(3) why your car went further (or not) than the other cars.
Lab Participation Scoring:
Comments
Hypothesis
__________ (10 points)
Individual Data
__________ (10 points)
Car Diagram (with forces)
__________ (10 points)
Class Data
__________ (10 points)
Behavior (adheres to all rules and
procedures, and contributes positively).
Conclusions (10 points per question)
__________ (10 points)
__________ (30 points)
Page 15
Name: ______________________________
Team Members: ______________________________________________________________
LAB REPORT CRITERIA: NOTE CATCHER FOR GROUP DISCUSSION
Sentence Starters for each team member
Leader: “I’m noticing that we only have _________ minutes, so we probably need to…” or “We haven’t heard from ___________ yet, what do you
think about….”
Reader: “Ok, Question ___ says….” or “What do you all think we should record?” or “The paper says…”
Materials Person: “Do we all agree this is important enough to put on our sentence strip?” or “Should I be writing this on the note catcher?”
Questioner: “Does anyone in our group know…”
1. In your own words, what do you need to do to get a 4 on this paper?
2. In your own words, what are some of the major differences between a 3 and a 4?
3. What score would you give this paper in on the rubric? Why? What is your evidence?
Page 16
CATEGORY
Problem &
Introduction
4
3
2
1
The purpose of the lab or the
question to be answered during
the lab is clearly identified and
stated.
Reading &
Research
Several reputable background
sources were used and cited
correctly. Material is translated
into student\'s own words and is
relevant to experiment purpose.
The purpose of the lab or the
question to be answered
during the lab is partially
identified, and is stated in a
somewhat unclear manner.
Almost no background
sources are referenced and
cited. Material used is
somewhat relevant to the
experimental problem.
Experimental
Hypothesis
Hypothesized relationship
between the variables and the
predicted results is clear and
reasonable based on what has
been studied.
The purpose of the lab or
the question to be
answered during the lab
is erroneous or
irrelevant.
Material is directly
copied and/or
background sources are
not cited. Material is
somewhat or completely
irrelevant to the
experimental problem.
No hypothesis has been
stated.
Procedures &
Materials
Procedures are listed in clear
steps. Steps are logically ordered
and written in complete sentences
in a paragraph. All materials and
setup used in the experiment are
clearly and accurately described.
Car Diagram
Clear, accurate diagram is included
with a caption that makes the
experiment easier to understand.
Diagram is labeled neatly and
accurately (including forces).
Professional looking and accurate
representation of the data in
tables and/or graphs. Graphs and
tables are labeled and titled.
The purpose of the lab or
the question to be answered
during the lab is identified,
but is stated in a somewhat
unclear manner.
A few reputable background
sources are used and cited
correctly. Material is
translated into student\'s
own words and is somewhat
relevant to experimental
problem.
Hypothesized relationship
between the variables and
the predicted results is
reasonable based on general
knowledge and
observations.
Procedures are listed in a
logical order, but steps are
not in complete sentences.
Almost all materials and the
setup used in the
experiment are clearly and
accurately described.
Diagram is included and is
labeled neatly and
accurately.
Analysis &
Scientific
Concepts
Hypothesized relationship
between the variables and
the predicted results has
been stated, but appears to
be based on flawed logic.
Procedures are listed but are
not in a logical order or are
difficult to follow. Most of the
materials and the setup used
in the experiment are
accurately described.
Procedures do not
accurately list the steps
of the experiment. Many
materials are described
inaccurately OR are not
described at all.
Diagram is included and is
labeled.
Needed diagram is
missing entirely OR is
missing important labels.
Accurate representation of
the data in tables and/or
graphs. Graphs and tables
are labeled and titled.
Accurate representation of
the data in written form. No
graphs or tables are
presented.
Data are not shown OR
are inaccurate.
Analysis
The relationship between the
variables is discussed and
trends/patterns logically analyzed.
Predictions are made about what
might happen if part of the lab
were changed or how the
experimental design could be
changed.
The relationship between
the variables is discussed
and trends/patterns logically
analyzed.
The relationship between the
variables is discussed but no
patterns, trends or
predictions are made based
on the data.
The relationship between
the variables is not
discussed.
Scientific
Concepts
Report illustrates an accurate and
thorough understanding of
scientific concepts underlying the
lab.
Report illustrates an
accurate understanding of
most scientific concepts
underlying the lab.
Report illustrates a limited
understanding of scientific
concepts underlying the lab.
Report illustrates
inaccurate understanding
of scientific concepts
underlying the lab.
Conclusion
Conclusion includes whether the
findings supported the hypothesis,
possible sources of error, and what
was learned from the experiment.
Conclusion includes what was
learned from the experiment.
No conclusion was
included in the report OR
shows little effort and
reflection.
Appearance/
Organization
Lab report is typed and uses
headings and subheadings to
visually organize the material.
Conclusion includes whether
the findings supported the
hypothesis and what was
learned from the
experiment.
Lab report is neatly
handwritten and uses
headings and subheadings to
visually organize the
material.
Lab report is neatly written or
typed, but formatting does
not help visually organize the
material.
Lab report is handwritten
and looks sloppy with
cross-outs, multiple
erasures and/or tears
and creases.
Scoring Breakdown
Page 17
4 = 100 (A) ; 3.5 = 87 (B+) ; 3 = 75 (C) ; 2.5 = 65 (D) ; 2 = 50 (F) ; 1.5 = 37 (F-) ; 1 = 25 (F--)
Page 18
Name: _______________________
Date:_____________
Class Section: _____
Lab Report Template: Drafting A Lab Report
Abstract
Introduction
(problem/question and background research)
Page 19
Hypothesis
Procedure & Materials
Materials:
Procedure:
Diagram:
Page 20
Collection of Data / Observations
Tables & Graphs:
Results Summary:
Page 21
Analysis of Data
Page 22
Conclusions
Page 23
Page 24